The National Maritime Strategy Development Workshop has commenced, bringing together government officials, military personnel, and maritime experts to discuss security strategies crucial for the region. Ambassador Robert P. Jackson opened the event at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, emphasizing the significance of maritime security and strategy.
Addressing the participants, Ambassador Jackson highlighted his recent appointment as Ambassador to Ghana and expressed his commitment to addressing regional maritime challenges. He cited a quote from Kofi Annan: “You can do a lot with diplomacy, but with diplomacy backed up by force you can get a lot more done.” This sentiment underpins the workshop's goal of uniting military, civilian, and diplomatic efforts to tackle pressing issues.
Ambassador Jackson outlined several maritime threats including piracy, oil bunkering, narcotics trafficking, weapons smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal fishing. These activities impact economies, governments, and citizens across nations. He stressed that "maritime criminals know no boundaries" and emphasized the need for collaborative strategies that transcend national waters.
The ambassador noted that developing effective national maritime strategies requires coordination across ministries and agencies. He described it as "a difficult whole-of-government task that must be led from the top but implemented at every level."
Highlighting U.S. involvement in enhancing strategic maritime capabilities in Ghana under the Security Governance Initiative, Ambassador Jackson mentioned ongoing collaborations with local authorities. The United States Coast Guard is actively involved in implementing International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) standards for port facility security.
Further cooperation includes military programs such as Africa Partnership Station, Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership, and Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS. These initiatives have been successfully executed with various countries present at the workshop.
Ambassador Jackson acknowledged African nations' efforts to confront maritime challenges through initiatives like the Yaoundé Code of Conduct. He praised Angola and Togo's leadership in organizing relevant conferences and emphasized strengthened partnerships exemplified by recent successes like tracking the pirated vessel MAXIMUS.
In closing remarks, he urged participants to make full use of their time at the workshop to foster partnerships and share knowledge. “Together,” he concluded, “you are the future for maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.”