Ninth EEZ management and operations course takes off
The Ninth Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Management and Operations course began in Accra on Monday.
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The course, which is being organised by the Ghana Armed Forces is expected to create awareness among stakeholders of the enormity of the resource potential and the requirements for monitoring, control and surveillance of the EEZ.
It is also expected to develop mechanisms to harness collaborative efforts to support the training and financing of the operations involved in the management of the EEZ.
It would also enable stakeholders to appreciate the magnitude of each other’s contributions towards the management of resources within the country.
Twenty-four external participants were drawn from the security services and maritime-related agencies in Ghana and 10 others from allied sub-regional countries of Senegal, Nigeria, Cote d’ Ivoire, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Togo, Liberia and Guinea. At the ceremony, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Geoffery Mawuli Biekro, said the concept of the EEZ management and operations had assumed centre stage in national security and economic management considerations of all coastal states.
That, he said, was as a result of the enormous opportunities and challenges emanating from the international recognition of exclusive rights of a coastal state to exploit the extensive sea areas constituting the EEZ.
Rear Admiral Biekro explained that the EEZ had empowered coastal states such as Ghana to take authoritative fishery management decisions which controlled not only their own nationals, but that of all other states as well.
He urged the participants to emphasise on the efficient and effective management of the country’s EEZ and added that, it was a way of protecting the maritime interests and safeguarding national security .
Rear Admiral Biekro said the Ghana Navy had recognised their obligation and were doing their best to stem the tide of piracy and other maritime crimes in the maritime environment.
According to him, the Navy was collaborating with other counterparts in the regions to rid the whole Gulf of Guinea of criminal activities.
He urged the participants to effectively study the course and come out with solutions that would help to protect coastal resources in the country for the benefit of future generations.