Special Adviser to the President on the Accra Initiative, Ambassador Major General Francis Adu-Amanfoh (Rtd) has stressed the need for improved collaboration and cooperation among all stakeholders in the Maritime Sector for better management and enhanced security of the maritime domain.
Amb Maj Gen Adu-Amanfoh (Rtd) was speaking as the Guest of Honour for the closing ceremony of the third Maritime Sector Governance Course held at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) on Friday 17 February 2023. He mentioned that the maritime domain is susceptible to unlawful exploitation and disruption by individuals, organizations, and states, due to its complex nature and immense size. He indicated that African countries stand to lose enormously if an effective and coordinated strategy is not evolved to ensure sustainable exploitation of their maritime domain and to protect the domain against unlawful exploitation and disruption.
Amb Maj Gen Adu-Amanfoh (Rtd) further indicated that bridging the gap between centers of excellence like GAFCSC and the maritime industry is another way to improve the ocean governance effort. He challenged the Commandant and staff of GAFCSC to reach out to the Maritime Industry, to propose areas of study for various research works for students of the Course. He added that the findings of these research works could be forwarded to relevant agencies, for them to determine which ones they could implement.
To the participants of the course, the Guest of Honour challenged them to use the lessons, skills, and networks developed during the course to counter potential increased piracy and other maritime crimes and to protect the global commons. He stressed that their collaborative efforts would have a lasting positive effect on improving inter-agency cooperation and information sharing among participating institutions to counter sea-based illicit maritime activities and strengthen safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Activities during the 5-day course focused on topics such as search and rescue, maritime domain awareness, maritime law, unregulated and unreported fishing, and International Shipping and Port Security Code.
– Story by Maj Amartefio (DDCA GAFCSC)
