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A team of navy experts from the kingdom of Netherlands, have offered a high level of technical training for Ghanaian forces in the development of ports and logistics. The Netherlands navy ship, HNLMS Rotterdam was used to offer a day training and demonstration for the Ghanaian forces at the Takoradi port in the Western Region, for fisheries protection and inspections. The training demonstrated how to get the forces on board the ship in the right landing craft, and how to attack the opposing forces at the port, the drills of getting in and out of the boat, making a fire base to attack enemies as fast as possible. The mission commander of the Africa Partnership Station (APS), Colonel Fred R. Swart, told the media that, the demonstration is to equip the Ghanaian forces with the skills and the capacity to deal with future challenges Ghana may face in the management of our maritime operations. He added that the programme is to achieve a sustainable and long term development of Africa�s main ports, and is dedicated to optimizing the environmental, economic and public benefits of ports including connected Deltas, cities and hinterlands. �The African Winds 2013� according to colonel Swart, is a 3D Approach (Defence, Development and Diplomacy). He said the HNLMS Navy will be in African countries such as Senegal, Cameroon, Nigeria etc.to offer similar training for the forces in the respective maritime operations. The Commanding Officer, commanding the Western Naval Command and NO.2 Garrison Commander in the western region, Commander Godson Zowonoo, said the exercise is very crucial to the country to combat maritime crimes, especially at the gulf of Guinea. He added that, activities of pirating, armed robbery at sea, illegal ship to ship transfer is rampant, and it will help to address them. He emphasized that, the expectations are to sharpen the skills of their forces, and also admitted that even though Ghana do not have these advanced equipment, the training will offer them the opportunity to strategize, and continued to appeal to the government for assistance to acquire some more equipment.