In a bid to boost the protection of its territorial waters, Ghana has launched the National Integrated Maritime Strategy.
President Nana Akufo-Addo unveiled the plan at the opening of a two-day International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference in Accra, Ghana.
The president disclosed that protecting the territorial waters of Ghana is critical due to its economic, environmental and security importance.
However, he said in the face of the maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea, the country needs a navy that is up to protect Ghana’s territorial waters as well as business and security interests.
To achieve that, he said the government recognised the need for a well-resourced and technologically advanced navy.
Akufo-Addo added that the country has started equipping the navy with drones, coastal radars, real-time surveillance and tracking protocols to improve its physical presence at sea.
The president pledged that the government would increase the fleet of patrol boats of the country’s navy to improve operational efficiency.
“The construction of naval infrastructure is on the course, and the government would continue with this naval infrastructure construction policy to improve the navy’s maritime response time.
“The government would continue supporting the maritime authority, ports and harbors authority, the fisheries sector, the oil and gas sector, and the entire maritime industry with policies, equipment and training”, he added.