By Felix Cofie
The Chief of Defence Staff, Major General William Agyapong, has called for stronger regional and international collaboration on maritime security following a recent attack on a Ghanaian fishing vessel.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day International Maritime Defence Conference and Exhibition in Accra, Major Gen. Agyapong said the incident highlights a growing threat that transcends national boundaries.
“The attack is a stark reminder that maritime security is no longer the sole responsibility of individual nations. It is a regional and international concern that demands coordinated action,” he stressed.
The conference, which brought together military leaders, maritime experts, and defense industry stakeholders from across Africa and beyond, focused on innovative strategies and technologies to combat evolving maritime threats in the Atlantic and Gulf of Guinea regions.
Key recommendations from the conference include:
•Establishment of Atlantic Maritime Fusion Command Hubs: Stakeholders proposed creating dedicated fusion centers to bolster cross-regional maritime surveillance and enhance coordinated threat response.
•Modernization of African Navies: Participants urged African nations to prioritize acquiring modular, multi-mission, and integrated unmanned platforms. These systems are seen as cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions tailored to modern maritime challenges, including affordable missile defense technologies.
•Integrated Maritime Security Approach: The conference emphasized a holistic strategy that combines situational awareness, security operations, and international cooperation to effectively counter piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing, and other maritime threats.
•Strengthened Naval Partnerships: African coastal states were encouraged to deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with regional and international navies to develop and execute joint maritime security strategies.
•AI-Driven Maritime Governance: A landmark proposal was made to integrate a regional AI Maritime Hub within the Atlantic fusion command centers. This hub would harmonize threat detection systems, develop shared surveillance databases, standardize AI training across navies, and foster public-private partnerships aimed at improving predictive security and maritime governance.
The conference concluded with a renewed sense of urgency to protect Africa’s blue economy and secure its maritime domain against growing transnational threats.
