Ghana, Denmark sign strategic maritime sector cooperation

The Danish Maritime Authority has picked Ghana as the safest maritime regime in West Africa. This was made known when the Danish Maritime Authority signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA).

The MOU, which marks the second phase of the maritime collaboration between Ghana and Denmark will further enhance e-navigation in Ghana and support implementation of international maritime regulations.

“We are very pleased to have gained so much from the maritime cooperation between Denmark and Ghana. With the continuation of the cooperation, we will work even more closely together especially when Ghana is our favourite partner in West Africa,” Andreas Nordseth, Director General of Danish Maritime Authority said during the signing ceremony.

Ghana’s first mover on e-navigation

In 2017, Ghana was the first in Africa and fifth in the world to pilot an e-navigation platform as a result of the initial collaboration.

“We have come a long way on enhancing our compliance to international maritime regulation. Additionally, the e-navigation platform is revolutionary in making navigation in Ghanaian water safer by e.g. broadcasting Maritime Safety Information digitally and in real time” Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Thomas Kofi Alonsi, said.

In the coming years, the platform will be further advanced by updating the map of Lake Volta with submerged three stumps making vast areas of the lake more accessible.

Enhancing the Blue Economy in Ghana

Ghana is one of the foremost countries in the region to comply with international regulations and this collaboration will ensure that Ghana stays in a leading position.

As part of the collaboration, a total of four tug boat captains from Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) will improve their qualification using simulators which are able to resemble the new Tema Port Terminal and the much bigger ships calling port there.

“Ghana is a long-lasting partner country to Denmark and an important maritime hub to West Africa. Continuing this maritime collaboration will provide capacity building support to the new Tema Port Terminal and further strengthen the ties between our two seafaring nations,” Tove Degnbol, Ambassador of Denmark to Ghana, said during the signing ceremony.

Ghana and Denmark commit to maritime cooperation until 2021.