The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) is collaborating with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to develop a national strategy for Maritime Security for Ghana’s maritime environment.
The strategy which is within the government’s overarching approach to national security is before the relevant authorities for adoption.
According to the Director General of GMA, Thomas Alonsi, the strategy emphasizes collaboration between state institutions and agencies as well as coastal states in the Gulf of Guinea and regional international organisations.
He was speaking at a maritime stakeholders’ forum in Accra yesterday after the three-day visit of the Secretary-General of the IMO, MrKitack Lim to the country.
The strategy, he said would complement the National Maritime Security Committee which was formed to address the development, relevance and acceptability of a National Maritime Security Framework and to perform other related maritime security functions.
Enumerating some of the Authority’s efforts to keep Ghana’s water safe and secure, Mr Alonsi stated that his outfit, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport initiated a process which resulted in the ratification by Ghana’s Parliament of five additional international treaties.
They include the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001; 2005 Protocols to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Navigation and its Protocol relating to Fixed Platforms located on the Continental Shelf; Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 and the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007.
The Instruments of ratification of these Conventions, the Director-General explained, were being prepared and would be deposited with IMO as required.
He said the GMA has procured seven vessels to effectively carry out its mandate by ensuring safety and security of vessels and the prevention of pollution of our waters as well as augment the efforts of the Ghana Navy and the Marine Police.
The Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) which was established in 2014 to provide a 24-hour electronic surveillance and monitoring of Ghana’s entire coastline and the exclusive economic zone, has increased the awareness of the country’s maritime domain leading to reduction in piracy and armed robbery in our waters, he stated.
Mr Alonsi said that the Authority has also collaborated with the IMO to host key national and regional seminars and workshops for the various IMO instruments, including the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code to build capacity and promote ratification of treaties and conventions within the sub-region.
On his part, Mr Lim commended Ghana for her stellar efforts in coordinating and promoting activities within the sun region to ensure safety and security in the maritime industry.
He said Ghana’s leading role in ensuring a safer maritime industry in the sub-region was a stellar example to other IMO member countries.
Photo: Mr Lim (immediate right) interacting with some officials of the Ghana Maritime Authority.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
