The Ghana Navy is at an advanced stage of acquiring offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) to bolster maritime security and strengthen the country’s capacity to confront emerging threats, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, has disclosed.

Speaking at the Ghana Navy Memorial Day celebration in Sekondi on Sunday, Rear Admiral Bessing said the OPVs would significantly expand the Navy’s operational reach, allowing it to better secure Ghana’s territorial waters, protect offshore oil and gas installations, and safeguard vital shipping lanes.

“Plans are far advanced for the acquisition of offshore patrol vessels to further enhance our operational capabilities. This new asset will expand our reach, improve our ability to secure the maritime domain, and ensure that we are better prepared to counter both traditional and emerging threats,” he stated.

Rear Admiral Bessing also paid tribute to naval personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty, assuring their families that their sacrifices would not be forgotten.

Ghana’s maritime domain continues to face challenges such as illegal fishing, smuggling, piracy, and threats to offshore energy infrastructure. According to the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security Report (2024), the region remains one of the most piracy-prone areas in the world, although incidents dropped by 37 percent between 2021 and 2024 due to improved regional collaboration. Illegal fishing alone costs Ghana an estimated $100 million annually, according to the World Bank’s 2023 fisheries report.

The planned OPV acquisition forms part of Ghana’s commitment to international maritime security frameworks, including the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, which encourages regional cooperation against maritime crime across the Gulf of Guinea.

In recent years, Ghana has deepened cooperation with neighbouring navies from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo, as well as international partners such as the United States and the European Union, through joint exercises like Obangame Express. The OPVs will add to ongoing modernization efforts by the Ghana Armed Forces, which include the commissioning of four fast patrol boats from SAFE Boats International in 2022 and the installation of advanced surveillance systems at the Takoradi Naval Base in 2024.

Rear Admiral Bessing emphasised that the new offshore patrol vessels will provide greater endurance at sea, enhanced surveillance capability, and improved capacity for both combat and humanitarian missions.

At the Memorial Day event, the Navy also marked 35 years since the Yogaga bombing, described as one of the darkest moments in its history. The Naval Chief said the sacrifices of fallen sailors continue to inspire the service’s commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s maritime interests.

“Ghana’s prosperity is tied to the sea. Securing our maritime domain is not just a military duty—it is an economic and national imperative,” he declared.