Following the signing of a MoU between SEACOP and the Regional Maritime University of Ghana on May 15th, SEACOP organised a regional seminar on ‘Best practice exchange between Maritime Intelligence Units and Joint Maritime Control Units (MIU/JMCU)’ .
Held on 16-17 May 2024, this seminar aimed to strengthen the capacities of MIU/JMCU in the SEACOP’s partner countries in West Africa (Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo) by sharing experiences.
Present at the opening were representatives from the European Union Delegation to Ghana SEACOP Project Director Dominique Bucas, and Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh, Director General of NACOC and SEACOP focal point in Ghana.
Adu-Amanfoh emphasised: “Tackling these complex drug challenges demands a collaborative approach that transcends national and regional borders. In our sub-region, the proliferation of substances like cannabis, the abuse of Tramadol, and the emergence of dangerous narcotics like ‘Kush’ are ravaging our communities, threatening both present and future generations. We have a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and expertise with this seminar.’
‘SEACOP has been instrumental in our fight against illicit drugs and contraband, providing essential training, logistical support, and facilitating information exchange both domestically and internationally.’
He highlighted the tangible impact of SEACOP, noting the establishment of JMCUs and MIUs at key ports, which have ‘significantly enhanced the capacity to intercept illicit shipments and conduct thorough investigations’.
🗣 For his part Jonas Claes, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Ghana, remarked: ‘For several years now, we have seen a global increase in clandestine trafficking activities, including the illicit trade in narvotics. Countries throughout the sub-region have not been spared from this trend, facing a growing influx of drugs arriving from the Americas, moving through the region’s ports and airports, and often destined for European markets. Better risk assessments and profiling are needed to decide which vessels or containers should be checked. This regional seminar will support MIUs, which play an important role in identifying and tracing illicit consignments.’
Facilitated by SEACOP experts and partners, including a French DNRED expert, the seminar covered topics environmental crime, with the Director of Operations of the Ghana Forestry Commission discussing the challenges posed by illegal timber shipping in Ghana and the Gulf of Guinea as a whole.
