Ghana moots maritime fund to address security issues
Maritime security experts in Ghana have called for the creation of a maritime security fund to address rising threats across the West African sub-region.
Retired executive director of the Centre for Maritime Law and Security Africa, Naval Capt Dr Kamal Deen-Ali , said the fund would draw from port charges, oil and gas and other services.
He added that the government’s annual budget allocation to the navy alone would not be adequate for the country’s long-term maritime security ambitions and called for a more sustainable source of funding.
The Commander of the marine, port and railways unit of the Ghana Police, chief superintendent Joseph Antwi-Ababio, supported the creation of the fund, adding that the operational cost of manning patrol boats was proving to be a major challenge without reliable funding sources.