President Akufo-Addo has cut the sod for the construction of Forward Operating Base, FOB, at Enzinlibo in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region.
It is for the protection of the Oil and Gas infrastructure, boost Maritime Operations and provide maximum security for the sector as the country works to fight piracy, theft and other maritime crimes.
The project which is under the auspices of the ministry of defence is being founded by the government of Ghana will enable the Ghana navy to respond swiftly to threats to the oil and gas fields in record time, for effective operations.
The 150 military human capacity Base which is located at Ezinlibo in the Jomoro Municipality will be completed within 33 months and will cover about four hundred acres of land.
After completion, it will have facilities such as; General Earth and civil works residential housing, Administrative and medical building, support and service building which will comprise of Security guard posts fuel filling storage facilities, Obstacle course Training Area, Fire pump House and Fire-fighting system as well as water treatment plant, storage tanks and boreholes and among others.
The Minister for Defence Dominic Nitiwul enumerated some of the interventions government is taking to improve the conditions of the Ghana Armed Forces.
He said the Forward operating base will help the Ghana Navy to Respond to any threats to the Oil and Gas fields in the country.
President Akufo-Addo who performed the sod-cutting ceremony said, it is in government plans to ensure that the Western Nzema lands which are in deplorable state will be fixed for smooth operations of the Base.
He said Security for oil and gas infrastructure was critical base on the huge investment in the sector.
The President indicated that it was necessary for government to increase security on Ghana waters with such a modern facility due to the incidence of piracy, Armed robbery kidnapping for ransom and theft on National and regional waters.
He said similar FOB will be built in Keta, Winneba and Elimina in due course.
The new FOB will be 30 minutes’ drive away from the oil fields, which is six hours from the Sekondi Naval Base.
