The discovery of oil and gas in Ghana comes with varied security challenges for which the country must get fully prepared, Essikado Omanhene, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, has said.
Addressing a public forum on maritime safety and security, which he chaired at the weekend, Nana Nketsia said Ghana should think seriously about how to deal with security threats to life and property as well as piracy. �The reality of piracy in our world is there. We should be careful about piracy in Benin, soldiers of misfortune in Equatorial Guinea and even kidnapping� the Omanhene told the participants.
He said that, situations in Sierra Leone and Nigeria should be clear signals for Ghana to avoid greed, ethnicity, social classes and exploitation by the few. �If we have any property, we should all share it,� he said some countries in the West Africa sub-region were endowed with rich minerals but the people were not enjoying the benefits and hoped that the outcome of the discussion would include good recommendations for the resolution of these challenges.
A retired Naval Officer, Captain (GN) Emmanuel B. Komeng, who spoke on �challenges of maritime security emanating from the oil discovery,� explained that, security comprised assets, threats and the capability to deal with them. �If you have no assets, then you face not threats, but without oil and gas exploration and production on stream, means that, even the sea environment faces threats,� Capt. Komeng said.
Unwanted visits, narcotics trafficking, sabotage by international terrorists, piracy and armed robbery, he said were some of the possible security threats that the oil field activities faced.
The movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the BONGA experiences, he said, could be exported to Ghana and the shipping traffic would be a target. �Even fishermen would not be interested in fishing but in stowaway considering that we have a very large coast line.� The retired naval officer, who formerly worked with the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) called for close collaboration among maritime security groups in information sharing, for example. He also proposed the establishment of a National Maritime Security Committee to advise the government.
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