US assists Ghana to set up Police Marine Academy

 Currently, the land size has been extended to accommodate the new structure with modern training equipment that would  position the centre as a number one training facility in Africa.

The command conducts military operations in order to deter and defeat transnational threats such as illegal fishing, drug and human trafficking, arms smuggling, piracy, among others and to provide a security environment conducive for good governance and development.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, the acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, said the offshore oil discovery with its attendant problems had brought about a lot of security implications for the country.

“The threats associated with the industry all over the world required an enhanced presence of security with police playing the lead role in law and order enforcement,” he said.

The IGP said in view of this, “over the years, the police have been undertaking various policy measures culminating in reactivation in 2010 of the marine police unit, hitherto Water Police Unit which was functional in 1942.”

Mr Alhassan said since the reactivation, the police administration through the support of the government and other strategic partners had organised some form of training programmes to sharpen the skills and reflexes of personnel.

“We are, however, mindful of the teething challenges that confront us as an organisation entering into the unchartered waters of managing the policing aspect of maritime peace and security,” the IGP said.

He said the intervention by AFRICOM to help in the development of the much needed infrastructure was timely, saying, “I am convinced that with good training infrastructure, well designed curriculum and motivated group of trainers, the future of the maritime police can only be said to be brighter.”

He expressed the hope that the inter-agency synergy that was developed between the police, Ghana Navy, and other stakeholders since the exploration, discovery  and production of oil, would be enhanced to ensure maximum security both on and off shore within the country’s territorial waters.

For his part, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, said the oil discovery came with an influx of people, some with questionable character traits and a rapid increase in population.

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, Ms Carolyn Pat Alsup, said United States was glad to partner the country in the strengthening  of its security in its maritime domain.


She urged the unit,  the Navy and the Fisheries Commission to share information to enhance teamwork needed to combat any threat. 


Story by Moses Dotsey Aklobortu