By Dennis Osei Gyamfi/Emmanuel Todd, GNA
Accra, July 18, GNA—The Ghana Navy has launched a book on its history – the naval force’s operation in the Gulf of Guinea Region, over the past 60 years.
Titled “History of the Ghana Navy, A case for a Credible Naval force as an Instrument for National Development”, it was co-edited by Commodore Issah Adams Yakubu, Lieutenant (GN) Kofi Amponsah Duodo and Lawyer Issa Adam.
It is the first ever official record of history of Ghana’s Navy.
The event heralded the year-long cerebration of the 60 years existence of the Navy and outdooring of its logo.
It brought together naval officers, politicians and stakeholders in the maritime industry.
Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, the Speaker of Parliament, who was on hand to perform the book launch noted that, from a humble beginning the Navy had grown into a credible force, whose officers had served the world in various capacities.
He underlined the need to adequately resource it to enable it to effectively perform its assigned task in the Gulf of Guinea to ensure a thriving maritime industry.
He said oil drilling in Ghanaian waters could potentially attract pirates and criminals to the country’s marine space and that was why the Navy needed to be well equipped to deal with any threats.
He called for the naval officers to remain vigilant to ensure a safe environment for further growth in the ‘Blue Economy’.
The Speaker encouraged military officers to read the book, to draw vital lessons from the Navy’s experiences during the ECOMOG operations.
He applauded the editors of the book for doing a great job by avoiding the use of technical language, something, which had made it an excellent reference for statesmen, diplomats, policy makers, as well as students of military history and maritime strategy.
Rear Admiral Seth Amoama, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), commended his predecessors for the initiative to publish a book highlighting the rich history of the Navy, and for their contribution over the years, to regional security.
He said the 60th anniversary celebration was an opportunity to reflect on the past, showcase the force’s services and to strategize for the future to make them a credible maritime force in the Gulf of Guinea Region and beyond.
The Navy would hold an International Maritime Defence Exhibition Conference (IMDEC) from July 23 to 25, which would bring together Chiefs of Navies from the sub-region and other stakeholders from across the world to discuss maritime challenges in the Gulf of Guinea Region.
He said a ceremony would also be performed to begin construction works on two housing projects for the Sekondi and Sogakope Training Commands.
