Commanding Officer of the visiting Canadian vessel, HMCS Shawinigan, Lieutenant Commander Mathew Mitchell, has been speaking about his interest and motivation for being in Ghana.
Two Canadian coastal defense vessels HMCS Shawinigan and HMCS GlaceBay have docked at the Tema Port for about a month to undertake exercises with the Ghana Navy primarily to combat threats to security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Lieutenant Commander Mitchell in an interview said ”a Ghanaian welcomed ten young men into his family’s home for three weeks some years ago”, and showed the beauty, history and hospitality that Ghana has to offer”, and ” it is such a pleasure to meet to be able to give back a little bit of that hospitality to Ghana”.
He said the crew intends to share ideas with the hope that the engagement will be a learning process for all.
Lieutenant Commander Mitchell and his team who hosted a reception onboard the vessel for a cross-section of the diplomatic corps and working teams in Ghana said he is indeed happy to be back to Ghana.
”I felt very safe in Ghana in Accra, so far and my crew felt safe too”, was Lieutenant Commander Mitchell’s answer to a question on his impressions about security while in Ghana”.
The Acting Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Sara Nichols spoke of the bi-lateral co-operation between both countries, highlighting that threats to maritime security is a concern to Ghana and Canada. ”Putting a stop to illegal fishing, human trafficking and environmental hazards or making important contribution to building prosperity in coastal communities in Ghana” said Acting Ambassador to Accra, Sara Nichols.
Story By: Rebecca Ekpe.
