The country loses an estimated $200 million annually as a result of foreign fishing vessels operating illegally in the country’s waters.
Emmanuelle Lécuyer of the EU-funded Enhanced Maritime Action in the Gulf of Guinea Project (EnMAR) disclosed this at the opening of a three-day training programme on maritime security and the blue economy in Accra last Tuesday.
The event brought together journalists, policymakers and industry experts to discuss the critical issues affecting the Gulf of Guinea.
The training, a joint effort by the Gulf of Maritime Institute (GOGMI) and EnMAR, aimed to promote accurate and urgent reporting on maritime security while highlighting the vast opportunities of the blue economy.
The programme offered participants a forum to engage with experts and policymakers, honing their skills in covering complex maritime issues.
Opening the session, Ms Lécuyer stressed the global importance of the Gulf of Guinea maritime domain.
She stated that while approximately 80 per cent of international trade passed through its routes, the region was severely plagued by piracy, drug trafficking, and other crimes.
Data in 2022 showed the scale of the crisis, with nearly 60 kilogrammes of illicit drugs being intercepted at Ghanaian ports, she said.
Accurate reporting
Ms Lécuyer emphasised the importance of accurate and constructive reporting, stating that “journalists and media practitioners are fully aware of the necessity to fight against disinformation in this critical domain”.
The Board Chairman of GOGMI, Air Vice Marshal Frank Hanson, highlighted the issue of “sea blindness”, which he described as the lack of attention paid to maritime issues despite their importance to national development.
He said journalists and media practitioners played a critical role in bridging the gap between human realities and public consciousness.
The Economic Impact
The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, said the financial loss from illegal fishing was compounded by a lack of political will along the Gulf of Guinea to address security needs.He revealed that a crucial project to acquire two offshore patrol vessels for Ghana had been advocated since 2010, but was yet to be implemented.He stressed the need for greater government support, indicating that many maritime authorities along the Gulf of Guinea maritime domain were not well-resourced, as experienced in the nearly $200 million being lost to illegal fishing.
Role of journalism
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, said journalists played a vital role in raising awareness of maritime security issues and promoting transparency and accountability.
He said by telling the stories of maritime security challenges and successes, journalists could shape public debate and create conditions for better governance of ocean spaces.
He, therefore, advocated greater stakeholder interactions to promote transparency, accountability and better governance of ocean spaces, ultimately contributing to the region’s economic development and stability.
Cooperation
The Executive Chairman of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute, Vice-Admiral (retd) Issah Yakubu, emphasised the region’s strategic and economic importance, while also highlighting the complex and interconnected nature of maritime threats.
To address these challenges, he advocates regional and international cooperation.
