INFORMATION SHARING AMONG MARITIME STAKEHOLDERS IMPORTANT (PAGE 25, OCT 16)

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Mathew Quashie, has called for a framework that will ensure free flow of information between the navy and other maritime stakeholders to combat illegal fishing and drug trafficking in the country’s territorial waters.
That, he said, had become necessary because of the limited resources at the disposal of the Ghana Navy and the national furore that greeted the news of illegal fishing by big-time foreign companies as well as illegal drug trafficking on the country's seas.
The Chief of Naval Staff who said that at a symposium to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Navy, explained that natural resources such as fish and oil abounded in the territorial waters of the country.
He noted that the present state of the navy did not allow for the effective and efficient performance of its roles and responsibilities.
He explained that no ship had been acquired since 2000 and the country could pay huge penalties for failing to protect and preserve the fishing industry.
He explained that with the limited fleet of vessels, the navy alone could not deal with the country’s maritime security challenges posed by the oil find and other natural resources.
He hailed the acquisition of two new 46-metre patrol boats by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to beef up the navy’s operations and protect the fishery resources of the country.
The Chief of Naval Staff said the influx of foreign companies, illegal bunkering and stealing of oil and other negative activities was bound to be on the ascendancy.
He said the collaboration between the navy and other maritime stakeholders could create a secure environment at sea for the unimpeded exploration of the country's natural resources.
He said until recently many people took the maritime resources of the country for granted until Kosmos Energy and Tullow P/C discovered oil in commercial quantities.
Real Admiral Quashie said the government had shown commitment to revamping the navy through the rehabilitation and modernisation of the Sekondi slipway project, which would allow the docking of ships at Sekondi for repair works.
He said the docking of the navy's ships at Tema Drydock was very expensive since it was a private enterprise.