The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Dr. Kamal Deen Ali, has addressed concerns over the safety of Ghana’s territorial waters in the wake of recent piracy incidents.
Speaking on the matter, he emphasized the need for vigilance,
“We need to be worried because crime is crime. And wherever crime is happening, especially in the maritime domain, we need to be concerned.”
He noted that while there is a technical distinction between piracy and armed robbery at sea, the broader focus should be on the criminal activities occurring in Ghana’s waters. “Piracy involves hijacking a vessel or crew members at sea for specific purposes. When such things happen, we must be concerned,” he explained.
However, Dr. Kamal was quick to highlight that criminal activities are not exclusive to the maritime sector.
“We must remember that a significant number of robberies take place on land daily, and we are concerned about those as well. As much as we focus on piracy, we should understand that criminal elements operate intermittently,” he added.
Dr. Kamal Deen Ali reassured the public that the relevant agencies are taking necessary actions to respond effectively when incidents occur and implementing preventive measures to curb future occurrences.
“Our territorial waters are generally safe. If they weren’t, we would see a high level of criminal activities, a substantial decline in port calls, and unique concerns emerging daily. While recent incidents are indeed a concern, we are committed to monitoring and strengthening our security efforts to prevent future threats.”
The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Dr. Kamal Deen Ali reiterated that while piracy remains a global concern, Ghana’s maritime domain remains largely secure, and authorities are actively working to maintain and enhance safety measures.
Story by Freedom Lavoe
