Roles

In accordance with Ghana’s defence policy and just like other Navies in the world, the traditional roles of the Ghana Navy are categorised into 3 main levels and these are:

a. Military Roles which includes projection of force or power function.
b. Policing roles which involve coast guard functions and nation building.
c. Diplomatic roles that is negotiation from the position of strength, manipulation and prestige.

In line with these traditional roles, the constitution of Ghana stipulates that the Ghana Navy is responsible for the following:

a. To deter any potential aggression against Ghana from the sea in co-operation with the Army and Air Force.
b. To provide offensive naval capacity to land and air forces during operations and training.
c. To maintain Ghana’s sovereignty over our territorial sea by conducting anti-piracy and anti-smuggling patrols.
d. Conduct monitoring, controlling, surveillance and inspection of fishery and exploration operation within our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and other activities as may be identified from time to time.
e. To prepare to assist in periods of National Disasters.

The traditional roles of the Ghana Navy could also be viewed as Wartime and Peacetime roles.

a. Wartime roles. The wartime roles which includes defensive and offensive tasks are as follows:
    (1) Insulating the Coast of Ghana against sea-borne invasion.
    (2) Supporting the land and air forces in amphibious operations.
    (3) Providing sea transportation for land forces.

b. Peacetime roles. During peacetime the Ghana Navy generally performs policing duties. Emphasis is on the maintenance of Law and order in our territorial waters and the EEZ. These peacetime roles include the following:
   (1) Maintenance of Ghana’s Maritime Territorial Integrity.
   (2) Fisheries Protection Duties.
   (3) Search and Rescue.
   (4) Internal Security and Peace Keeping Operations.
    (5) Security on the Lake Volta.