By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Ghana Navy is at an advanced stage of acquiring offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) as part of efforts to boost the country’s maritime security and strengthen the fight against emerging threats, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, has revealed.
Speaking at the Ghana Navy Memorial Day Celebration in Sekondi on Sunday, Rear Admiral Bessing said the OPVs will significantly expand the Navy’s operational reach, enabling it to safeguard Ghana’s territorial waters, critical offshore oil and gas installations, and key shipping lanes.
“Plans are far advanced for the acquisition of offshore patrol vessels to further enhance our operational capabilities,” he stated. “This new asset will expand our reach, improve our ability to secure the maritime domain, and ensure that we are better prepared to counter both traditional and emerging threats.”
The Naval Chief also paid tribute to officers and men who lost their lives in the line of duty, assuring their families that their sacrifices would never be forgotten.
Ghana’s maritime domain has faced increasing challenges in recent years, including illegal fishing, smuggling, piracy, and threats to offshore oil and gas operations. According to the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security Report (2024), the region remains one of the most piracy-prone areas in the world, though improved collaboration has reduced incidents by about 37% between 2021 and 2024.
The Ghana Navy has also had to contend with illegal fishing activities, which cost the country an estimated $100 million annually, according to a World Bank fisheries report (2023). These activities not only deplete fish stocks but also undermine the livelihoods of local fishermen.
The acquisition of offshore patrol vessels aligns with Ghana’s commitment to international maritime security frameworks, including the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, which encourages regional cooperation in fighting maritime crime across the Gulf of Guinea.
In recent years, Ghana has intensified collaboration with navies from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo, as well as with international partners such as the United States and the European Union, through joint exercises like Obangame Express.
The OPV acquisition is the latest in a series of modernization efforts by the Ghana Armed Forces. In 2022, the Navy commissioned four new fast patrol boats from SAFE Boats International in the U.S., and in 2024, it upgraded its Takoradi Naval Base with advanced surveillance systems.
Rear Admiral Bessing noted that the new offshore patrol vessels will provide longer endurance at sea, advanced surveillance equipment, and improved capacity to support both combat and humanitarian missions.
At the Memorial Day event, the Navy also marked 35 years since the Yogaga bombing, one of the darkest days in Ghana’s naval history. Rear Admiral Bessing reminded the gathering that the sacrifices of fallen sailors continue to inspire the Navy’s commitment to protecting the nation’s maritime interests.
“Ghana’s prosperity is tied to the sea. Securing our maritime domain is not just a military duty—it is an economic and national imperative,” he said.
The Ministry of Defence is expected to announce details of the OPV procurement deal in the coming months.
