Denmark Renews Commitment to Maritime Security in Gulf of Guinea

Accra, Ghana - 26 Feb, 2025 - Denmark has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea through its ongoing partnership with Ghana's Special Boat Squadron.

In an exclusive interview with Lead News' Florence Kyei on Monday, February 24, 2025, Lieutenant Colonel Lasse Sand, Denmark's Defense Attaché to Ghana, revealed the extent of Denmark's commitment to enhancing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to him, Denmark has been providing training, mentoring, and development support to the Special Boat Squadron for nearly four years, helping to build the unit from scratch. This partnership is part of Denmark's broader efforts to promote maritime security in the region, driven by its significant shipping interests, including about 40-50 vessels in the Gulf of Guinea.

He noted that as part of its efforts to support maritime security in West Africa, Denmark has been undertaking several projects in the sub-region. These projects, sponsored by the Peace and Stabilisation Fund (PSF), aim to enhance maritime domain awareness, capacity building, and cooperation among maritime stakeholders.

''This week, we are getting some instructors from Denmark to start the training. We'd be using some of the funds to train the Ghanaian counterparts and to teach them how to maintain the technologies and that's why are now trying to build the capacity for the during training, Lieutenant Lasse Sand revealed.

''We have been doing this for three years now, most four years. We have been helping building this unit from scratch. We do that with the Frogman Corps, the Danish Maritime Security in Special Forces. We have been mentoring and training and developing the unit, with organization,  personnel, how to do security operations and many more. And that's been going on now for 3-4 years and will end in 2026 where we will probably extend this cooperation,'' he added.

According to him, Denmark is also supporting the development of maritime domain awareness capabilities amongst West African coastal states. This includes maritime operational planning workshops and conferences conducted by the Danish Navy and maritime simulation training by Svendborg International Maritime Academy and the Danish Navy.

''What we have been doing the last couple of years is that we have been bringing together the navy chiefs from Sierra leone, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa to talk about common challenges. We also bring in academia and other maritime stakeholders on how to address these challenges. These conferences really help,'' he stated. 

The Danish government is also enhancing the capacity of Ghanaian maritime special forces to respond to piracy and armed robbery at sea. This includes education and mentoring of Ghana's Special Boat Squadron by Danish maritime special forces and infrastructure projects to enable the squadron to train and operate effectively.

''It's a project under the peace and stabilisation. A mechanism that funds all our activities and we use that to fund the special boat squadron operations and outside of that we have been working with the Ghana Navy in general to enhance maritime security. We are also set to construct a 'ship in a box',(one for Ghana and one for Nigeria) we have conferences, simulation training. We will also be constructing swimming pool for diving training and will be the biggest pool in the sub region. So you can train jumping out of the ship. Essentially, it would help save lives.,'' he revealed.

Additionally, Denmark has awarded scholarships to Ghanaian naval personnel, such as a four-year education in underwater medicine at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

''This last Friday, I was in Navy headquarters handing over a scholarship to a Ghana Naval Female Doctor and Team Commander Yeboah who's now going to undertake a 4 year education in South Africa. Stellebocsh Univeristy in underwater medicine. So we are constructing this pool. Helping to educate,'' he added.

Furthermore, Denmark is enhancing the capacity of maritime law enforcement agencies in Nigeria and Ghana to respond to maritime crime at sea. This includes the donation and construction of a full mission bridge simulator, vehicles and ATVs for primary use at Ghana's Special Boat Squadron.

Summary of Key Initiatives and Investments

The partnership has led to several key initiatives, including:

- Enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness: Denmark is supporting the development of maritime domain awareness capabilities amongst West African coastal states. This includes maritime operational planning workshops conducted by the Danish Navy and maritime simulation training by Svendborg International Maritime Academy and the Danish Navy.
- Capacity Building: Denmark is enhancing the capacity of Ghanaian maritime special forces to respond to piracy and armed robbery at sea. This includes education and mentoring of Ghana's Special Boat Squadron by Danish maritime special forces and infrastructure projects to enable the squadron to train and operate effectively.
- Regional Cooperation: Denmark is supporting regional cooperation among maritime stakeholders, including maritime security conferences and training programs. This includes the construction of a "ship in a box" in Ghana, which is co-funded with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Maritime Law Enforcement: Denmark is enhancing the capacity of maritime law enforcement agencies in Nigeria and Ghana to respond to maritime crime at sea. This includes the donation and construction of a full mission bridge simulator, swimming pools for diving training, and vehicles and ATVs for primary use at Ghana's Special Boat Squadron.

- Scholarships and education: Denmark has awarded a scholarship to a Ghanaian naval doctor to pursue a four-year education in underwater medicine at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
- Regional cooperation: The partnership is part of a regional program covering all Gulf of Guinea countries, aiming to counter criminal activities through special forces and education.

Lieutenant Sand also noted that Denmark could explore opportunities for future cooperation with Ghana on riverine security. He revealed that the Danish government could in future,consider initiatives to enhance security in Ghana's rivers, particularly in the context of the Ghana Navy's establishment of a river command in Keta Krachi.

According to him ,this potential new area of cooperation could address concerns around illegal mining and other security threats in Ghana's rivers.

''I forsee the Danish Government looking at taking maritime security in the rivers. It could be an area of cooperation in future. With the Ghana Navy establishing a riverine command center in Keta Krachi close to the Volta lake. And this is an area that could be of great concern with all the issues of illegal mining,'' he concluded.

As a defense attaché, Lieutenant Colonel Sand plays a crucial role in representing Denmark's defense interests in Ghana. A defense attaché is a member of the armed forces who serves in an embassy as a representative of their country's defense establishment abroad. Their duties include protecting, developing, and promoting their country's defense interests, as well as engaging in bilateral military and defense relations.

The partnership between Denmark and Ghana is expected to continue beyond 2026, with Denmark likely to extend its cooperation with Ghana. As Lieutenant Colonel Sand noted, "Maritime security is very important... We just want to help the Ghana Navy."

Source: Florence Kyei/ Lead News Online