Ghana and France have deepened their naval cooperation as a French offshore patrol vessel joined joint security operations in Ghana’s territorial waters to combat rising maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea.
According to a Facebook post by the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday, March 3, the Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, alongside the French Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Diana Dime Labille, and senior military officers, paid a courtesy visit to the French Navy vessel Commandant Bouan at the Port of Tema.
The 83-metre ship, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Damien Tocquer and crewed by 104 personnel, is operating in Ghanaian waters to enhance maritime security and strengthen naval collaboration between the two countries.
It has already undertaken joint counter-piracy patrols with the Ghana Navy and is expected to conduct further training exercises to improve interoperability and operational readiness.
During the visit, Mr. Brogya Genfi reaffirmed Ghana’s strong military ties with France and praised ongoing technical support and joint exercises.
However, he raised concerns about increasing incidents of high-sea robberies targeting artisanal fishermen, describing maritime insecurity as a growing shared threat similar to terrorism in the sub-region.
He called for enhanced international support, particularly in the provision of advanced surveillance equipment, to bolster Ghana’s capacity to secure its waters.
The vessel arrived from Gabon and is scheduled to remain in Ghanaian waters until March 6, 2026, before proceeding to Guinea-Conakry.
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