Air Commodore David Anetey Akrong, Deputy Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), has emphasized the importance of collaboration among maritime security experts to enhance safety in the maritime domain.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of KAIPTC's two-week Course on Maritime Security and Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) in Accra, Air Commodore Akrong highlighted the necessity for concerted efforts and persistent engagement among nations and regions to maintain good order at sea.
The course, which ran from April 15 to April 26, 2024, was sponsored by the German Government and saw the participation of 24 experts from various agencies and countries, including Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Republic of Congo, Gambia, Senegal, Nigeria, and Liberia.
Participants hailed from diverse backgrounds, including the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Customs Division of GRA, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Fisheries Commission, Narcotics Control Commission, National Boundary Commission, Volta Lake Transport Company, Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute, and media houses.
Air Commodore Akrong urged participants to share their newfound knowledge with their colleagues and apply it in their respective workplaces. He underscored the dynamic nature of piracy and transnational organised crime, emphasizing the shared imperative for maritime security beyond individual countries and navies.
The course covered a wide range of topics, including security-related vulnerabilities, piracy, illegal fishing, illicit trafficking, marine environmental pollution, and other forms of transnational organised crime. It provided participants with insights into emerging maritime insecurity and facilitated collaboration, coordination, cooperation, and information sharing among security personnel and maritime industry players.
Expressing gratitude to the Government of Germany for its support, Air Commodore Akrong highlighted the invaluable assistance in developing, reviewing, financing, and delivering the course.
In her valedictory remarks, Mrs. Anwuli Irene Akpu of the Nigeria Ports Authority commended KAIPTC for the well-planned course content and facilitators for sharing their knowledge and experiences. She thanked participants for their contributions, emphasizing the importance of sharing information to enrich the learning experience.
