Ernest Brogya Genfi is the Deputy Minister of Defence
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the operational capacity of the Ghana Navy, announcing fresh plans to invest in more advanced vessels to protect the country’s maritime space.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) Pru at the Sekondi Naval Base, Genfi stated that the 2026 Budget makes provision for the acquisition of two offshore patrol vessels.
These ships, he explained, are designed for sustained operations at sea and will significantly boost the Navy’s ability to safeguard Ghana’s waters once delivered.
“As a coastal state, our defence architecture cannot be complete without maritime safety and security,” Genfi said.
He noted that the rapid growth of Ghana’s blue economy, including offshore oil production, fishing, and maritime trade, makes it even more crucial to secure the country’s waters against threats such as piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing.
“With enhanced endurance and capability, GNS Pru will extend our reach, strengthen patrols, safeguard offshore resources, combat illicit maritime activities, and contribute to regional and international maritime security,” Genfi noted.
Genfi emphasised that the presentation of colours is one of the highest symbols of national recognition and confidence in a military formation.
The commissioning ceremony of GNS Pru, a River Class Ship newly added to the fleet, marked another step in that direction.
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The event also featured the consecration and presentation of national and Ghana Navy colours to the Western Naval Command, a symbolic moment reflecting honour and national trust.
Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, described the addition of GNS Pru as timely and strategic.
He said the vessel will enhance the Navy’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to increasingly complex and asymmetric maritime threats, despite current resource constraints.
According to him, the commissioning of the ship is clear evidence of the government’s resolve to equip the Navy with modern platforms capable of addressing both present and future security challenges.
For the Western Naval Command, the presentation of colours carried deep significance.
Commodore Samuel Ayelazono, Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, said the colours would serve as a constant reminder of the trust placed in them and the responsibility they bear to defend the nation.
He said the colours represent honour, loyalty, unity, and the enduring bond between the Armed Forces and the people they serve.
Their consecration, he added, reinforces the moral and constitutional foundation of military service, a report by 3news.com has said.
The ceremony drew high-profile attendance, including Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General William Agyapong, Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Eric Agyen-Frempong, members of the military high command, heads of sister security agencies in the Western Region, as well as traditional and religious leaders.
NA/AE
