President commissions vessel, housing for navy

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo witnessed the presidential fleet review and commissioning of Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) Achimota at the Sekondi Naval Base yesterday in one of his final official duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.

It was preceded by the inauguration of a residential facility for the navy at Apollo, made up of 20 three-bedroom apartments as part of its efforts to ease the accommodation challenge and improve the state of infrastructure for the Ghana Navy.

The completed base comprises a main entrance gate and armoury, administration block, mess, base commander’s guesthouse, and 1,000 accommodations for officers and men.

It also has the Base Commander’s accommodation, medical reception station, a quartermaster yard, a church, modern training facilities, a mosque, a power system and sanitation, among others.

The shore has the main and lee breakwater and will serve as an advanced military operational location from where any security request of activities for the safety of the offshore oil fields, namely Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa, would be coordinated and maintained.

Fleet review

The presidential fleet review is a ceremonial event where a nation's naval fleet is showcased to the head of state, demonstrating loyalty and allegiance to the country.

It is an opportunity for the President to assess the navy's preparedness and capabilities in maritime security, safety and defence.

It was at the event that the Ghana Navy welcomed the new addition to its fleet, with the arrival of the GNS Achimota at the Home Port of the Western Naval Command.

The new fleet member docked at the Sekondi Naval Base last Saturday to enhance the Ghana Navy's maritime security and patrol capabilities.

It was subsequently renamed and commissioned into service.

The name “GNS Achimota” belonged to an older naval vessel which has currently been decommissioned, but the name was transferred to the new vessel, bought from Japan, to maintain the name among the naval fleet per Ghana Navy’s tradition.

Ceremony

At the vessel renaming ceremony, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said his tenure as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces prioritised the modernisation and transformation of the Ghana Navy.

The new GNS Achimota began her maiden voyage from Yawatahama Port in Japan under the command of Cdr Joshua Joy MacSimpiney on October 18, 2024, and finally arrived at the Sekondi Naval Base on December 21, 2024, having been at sea for 36 days and covering a distance of 10,869.7 nautical miles.

The ship will be employed in the Ghana Navy fleet, among others, for fisheries protection duties and as a training vessel for both officers and ratings.

The President said it was undeniable that the government had achieved remarkable milestones that had fortified the maritime security architecture and advanced the country’s national development agenda.

Since assumption of office, he said, he had been committed to strengthening the Ghana Navy’s capabilities, saying “I am proud to say that we have acquired over 20 modern platforms, including the four offshore security vessels, two boundary class ships, rigid-hulled inflatable boats, zodiac boats and the landmark Ghana Navy Ship Achimota.

“The addition of GNS Achimota with a length of 65 metres is a symbol of our navy’s evolution and a marker of our 65 years of resilience and growth,” he said.

Aside from the successes chalked up, he said there were ongoing efforts to procure two 72-metre offshore patrol vessels to further elevate the navy’s operational capabilities.

“While we await that, the navy has integrated drone technology in its operations, enabling intelligence-led operations. We have enhanced the surveillance of our exclusive economic zone with the acquisition of state-of-the-art over-the-horizon radar,” he said.

“I am confident that soon, Ghana will be the hub for maritime trade in the region,” the President added.

Oil & gas discovery

President Akufo-Addo said the discovery of offshore oil and gas brought the country’s attention back to the otherwise neglected maritime sector.    

The government, he said, had by this far built on the foundation of the nation’s forebears, and he hoped that future administrations would continue to invest in the maritime sector and the development of the blue economy as a whole.

President Akufo-Addo said as he approached the end of his tenure, “I carry with me the pride of knowing that the Ghana Navy stands stronger, more capable and more respected than ever before”.

“As the sun sets on this chapter of my leadership, I am reminded that the work of nation-building is a collective endeavour. It is an honour to serve Ghana, and it is my hope that the foundation we have laid will endure for generations to come,” he added.

The Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, said over the eight years, the government had shown commitment to retooling the Ghana Armed Forces.

The refurbishment and maintenance of the Ghana Air Force's aircraft inventory and the construction of the Tactical Air Command in Bui, he said, were part of the government’s effort to retool the Air Force, the minister said.