France reaffirms maritime security commitment to Ghana

The Ambassador of France to Ghana, Diana Dime-Labille, and Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, have jointly reaffirmed Ghana-France maritime cooperation during a strategic visit to the French Navy offshore patrol vessel Commandant Bouan at the Tema Port, in a move aimed at strengthening maritime security cooperation between the two countries.

The deployment of the 83-metre vessel, crewed by 104 personnel, forms part of ongoing collaboration between France and Ghana to enhance maritime domain awareness and reinforce naval coordination in the Gulf of Guinea. The vessel arrived from Gabon and is expected to remain in Ghanaian waters until March 6, 2026, before proceeding to Guinea-Conakry.

The visit comes against the backdrop of renewed pirate activity within Ghana’s maritime territory, which has increased pressure on security forces to bolster surveillance and rapid-response capabilities. Maritime security remains a critical concern for Ghana, particularly as artisanal fishermen continue to face attacks at sea.

Recently, joint naval security teams rescued more than 70 fishermen who were attacked by pirates between Senya Beraku and Dampase in the Central Region. The assailants reportedly made away with seven outboard motors, five generators, mobile phones, fuel, and cash. The fishermen were aboard seven canoes, one from Tema, two from Chorkor, and four from Senya Beraku.

Earlier in March 2025, pirates attacked the fishing vessel Mengxin 1 and kidnapped its captain, chief mate, and chief engineer, all Chinese nationals, who were later rescued through coordinated security efforts. The incident renewed calls for enhanced maritime patrols and stronger international naval cooperation.

During the visit, the delegation was received by the vessel’s commanding officer, Damien Tocquer. The Commandant Bouan has already conducted joint counter-piracy patrols with the Ghana Navy and is expected to undertake further training exercises to improve interoperability and operational effectiveness.

Deputy Minister Brogya Genfi commended the ongoing joint technical support and exercises between Ghana and France, underscoring the strong defence ties both nations have cultivated over the years. He emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration in intelligence sharing, naval training, and maritime surveillance.

He further called for increased overseas support, particularly in the provision of advanced surveillance equipment, citing growing concerns over terrorism in the sub-region and high-sea robberies targeting artisanal fishing communities.

Lieutenant Commander Tocquer also touted Ghana’s Navy as a dependable partner in maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, reaffirming the commitment of France to deepening defence collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces.

Defence cooperation between Ghana and France has deepened in recent months. Joint military exercises have been ongoing at the Achiase Jungle Warfare Training School, where Ghanaian and French troops have engaged in live-fire drills and tactical jungle operations designed to strengthen combat readiness and joint operational capacity.

In a related engagement earlier this year, French and Ghanaian defence officials formally introduced Colonel Madelin as the first permanent French Defence Attaché to Ghana, a development expected to institutionalize and further consolidate bilateral military relations.

Source: Diplomatic Times