The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, delivered an impactful address to the Senior Command and Staff (SCS) Course 46 students at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Teshie on Wednesday 23 October 2024.
The presentation, which forms part of the ongoing Maritime Combat Power Week, outlined the CNS’s strategic vision and key priorities that will guide the Ghana Navy’s efforts in 2024 and beyond.
In his remarks, delivered by the Chief Staff Officer (CSO) at Naval Headquarters, Commodore Bright Emmanuel Kojo Atiayao, Rear Admiral Yakubu congratulated the students on their selection for the prestigious course. He emphasised the importance of a comprehensive approach to address evolving maritime security challenges.
According to the CNS, this annual presentation provides a platform for reflection and projection regarding the Ghana Navy's progress and future aspirations. He underscored the significance of Maritime Combat Power Week in familiarising students, particularly those from non-naval backgrounds, with the maritime domain.
Highlighting the changing landscape of naval operations, Rear Admiral Yakubu noted that while larger navies focus on high-end combat and power projection, the Ghana Navy is increasingly tasked with security and policing roles, especially in safeguarding maritime domains from non-state threats such as criminal flows, crimes against mobility and environmental crimes.
Rear Admiral Yakubu stressed the geo-strategic importance of the Gulf of Guinea, emphasising that the region's economic security is integral to global maritime safety. He added that the ‘Agenda 2024 was adopted to deal with some of the major maritime security threats within the Gulf of Guinea. “The threats in Ghana’s maritime domain remain complex and intricate,” he noted.
According to the CNS, the Ghana Navy has implemented several initiatives under 'Agenda 2024’ to minimise blue crimes in the Ghanaian waters over the last three years. The CNS elaborated on the strategic priorities for ‘Agenda 2024 and Beyond’ which included Modernising the Ghana Navy, Achieving Total Surveillance Coverage of the Economic Exclusive Zone, Leveraging Technology and Administrative Functions, Developing Training Facilities, collaborating with International Partners and Local Stakeholders and Enhancing the Welfare of Sailors.
Following the presentation, students engaged in a question and answer session with the CSO and his team, expressing enthusiasm for the Navy’s modernisation efforts and commitment to personnel welfare.
In his closing remarks, the Commandant of the College, Major General Francis Essien, thanked the CNS and the Naval Headquarters team for their valuable insights. He presented a plaque to the CNS through the CSO as a token of appreciation.
The SCS Course 46 comprises 67 Ghanaian military personnel and 32 international students from allied countries, underscoring the collaborative spirit and shared commitment to maritime security in the region.