The Danish Government, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has commissioned a cutting-edge “Ship-in-a-Box” training facility for the Ghana Navy’s Special Boat Squadron (SBS).
This facility, which is designed to enhance maritime security by providing advanced training in Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations, marks a significant step forward in Ghana’s maritime law enforcement capabilities.
The commissioning ceremony took place at the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) in Nutepkor, a key strategic location in the Volta Region. This event celebrated the successful implementation of an innovative project funded by the Danish government and implemented in collaboration with the UNODC.
The initiative aims to strengthen Ghana’s maritime law enforcement capabilities, particularly in combating piracy, drug trafficking, and other forms of transnational organized crime, which have posed significant threats to the region’s stability and security.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, Ghana’s Minister for Defence, expressed profound gratitude to the Danish Government for its unwavering support of the Ghana Navy.
“The Ghana Navy has benefitted immensely from the Danish Government Maritime Security Programme in the Gulf of Guinea, especially in the development of the Special Boat Squadron and the acquisition of the Full Mission Bridge Simulator to build capacity for our sea-going officers and ratings.”
Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, Minister for Defence
Hon. Nitiwul emphasized that the commissioning of the “Ship-in-a-Box” facility is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Ghanaian government and its international partners in staying ahead of traditional and emerging maritime security threats.
This facility, Hon. Nitiwul noted, would ensure that the Ghana Navy remains equipped and prepared to respond to various maritime security challenges with professionalism and efficiency. He also urged the personnel to diligently protect the facility, given the significant security challenges and implications associated with its use.
Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), delivered a welcome address in which he underscored the importance of the newly commissioned facility.
Rear Admiral Yakubu described the “Ship-in-a-Box” as a pivotal addition to NAVTRAC’s training infrastructure, contributing significantly to its vision of becoming a World-Class Centre of Excellence in professional maritime training.
“The ‘Ship-in-a-Box’ project will undoubtedly add to the array of training facilities designed to support the operational capacity of the Ghana Navy, as well as other regional navies and maritime security agencies, enabling them to conduct the full spectrum of training necessary to enhance our ability to project force in our maritime domain.”
Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS)
This facility, according to Rear Admiral Yakubu, will not only benefit the Ghana Navy but also other regional navies and maritime security agencies, thereby bolstering collective maritime security efforts across West Africa.
Denmark’s Commitment to Maritime Security
Danish Foreign Minister, Mr. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, also attended the commissioning ceremony and reiterated Denmark’s commitment to enhancing maritime security in the region. He emphasized that Denmark’s partnership with Ghana plays a crucial role in securing the maritime domain, which is vital for both regional and international trade.
Mr. Rasmussen also highlighted Denmark’s ongoing efforts to support freedom of navigation at sea and called for greater international cooperation in building the capacity of maritime law enforcement agencies.
According to Rasmussen, Denmark has been actively engaged in regional cooperation through the development of national maritime strategies, the harmonization of standard operating procedures, and the facilitation of joint training and sea patrols.
Mr. Rasmussen noted that Denmark has recently supported the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in reassessing the mandate, structure, and operations of maritime coordination centres to improve their efficiency.
The Regional Representative of UNODC, Mr. Amado Philip De Andres, expressed his satisfaction with the completion of the “Ship-in-a-Box” project, viewing it as another critical milestone in UNODC’s ongoing efforts to support the criminal justice sector in Ghana and other regional member states.
Mr. De Andres highlighted that the facility would play a key role in enhancing maritime law enforcement capacity and inter-agency collaboration, particularly within the ECOWAS Zone F region, under the Yaoundé Architecture.
“The commissioning of the ‘Ship-in-a-Box’ marks another important milestone in UNODC’s ongoing efforts to support the criminal justice sector of Ghana and other regional member states, particularly within the ECOWAS Zone F region under the Yaoundé Architecture.”
Mr. Amado Philip De Andres, Regional Representative of UNODC
This collaborative project between the Danish Government, UNODC, and the Ghanaian authorities underscores the importance of international partnerships in addressing the complex and evolving challenges of maritime security.
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