Africa-Press – Ghana. Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah says Ghana Navy patrols have significantly curbed maritime piracy and helped ease tensions along the Ghana-Togo maritime boundary.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at Jubilee House on Monday, he credited the Navy with strengthening national security and advancing regional maritime stability.
“The Ghana Navy has significantly reduced maritime crimes, particularly piracy through robust patrols, targeted escort duties, and the deployment of armed guards aboard vessels,” he said.
The Minister explained that these operations had secured major shipping routes, boosted maritime trade, and safeguarded critical communication lines.
He added that the Navy’s stepped-up riverine patrols had also reduced accidents, saved lives, and protected property along the country’s inland waterways.
Dr Omane Boamah highlighted the transformation of the Gulf of Guinea, once a piracy hotspot, attributing the sharp decline in incidents to increased regional cooperation and sustained naval operations by littoral states, including Ghana.
He said the improved security had positively impacted communities and businesses dependent on the maritime sector, contributing significantly to economic growth.
Addressing the maritime boundary dispute with Togo, the Minister said the Navy reinforced Ghana’s position by increasing patrols along the eastern border.
“The strategic deployment of GNS AIMA within the disputed area succeeded in establishing harmony at the eastern border,” he stated.
He added that high-level engagement and operational coordination between Ghanaian and Togolese naval forces had prevented conflict and enabled the shared use of maritime resources.
Dr Omane Boamah noted that the Ghana Boundary Commission continued to play an active role in negotiations, recording progress on defining the land boundary terminus and updating nautical charts.
The Navy also increased surveillance around national assets such as the Akosombo Dam and key oil infrastructure, including the West African Gas Pipeline, to ensure national and regional energy security.
The Minister praised the Special Boat Squadron for boosting the Navy’s operational readiness through advanced training, including anchorage drills and onboard combat medical evacuation exercises.
He commended the Navy’s role in Operation Carrot, where officers intensified patrols to enforce the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development’s directives on the closed fishing season—supporting sustainable practices in Ghana’s fisheries sector.
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