The World Maritime University (WMU) has held a workshop in Accra, Ghana in conjunction with the European Union-funded Western and Central Africa Port Security (WeCAPS) project.
The workshop was the first in a series that will be conducted by WMU as the culmination of the three-year WeCAPS project consisting of three phases: desk study and pre-evaluation, field visit and data gathering, and the final workshop/roadmap exercises.
The WMU/WeCAPS delegation was composed of Professor Max Mejia, Associate Professor Aref Fakhry and Assistant Professor Khanssa Lagdami. The WMU delegation was joined by Mr Laurens De Buck and Mr Tim Michielsen representing the WeCAPS partner ENABEL-Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and Mr. Samuel Champon representing WeCAPS-Expertise France.
The two-day workshop was attended by 28 participants who are senior representatives from various organizations including the European Union, Expertise France, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), The Centre for Maritime Law and Security Africa (CEMLAWS), and EU Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN).
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Day one included an introduction to the WeCAPS project, a recap of port security and civil protection requirements, and a presentation on the legislative and organizational frameworks governing port security. The day culminated in an interactive group exercise that facilitated the exchange of views within small groups which were then shared in plenary.
Day two commenced with remarks by Mrs. Anna Lixi of the Delegation of the European Union to Ghana. A case study of the 2020 Port of Beirut explosion followed by a technical analysis of the proposal for a port police security and interactive sessions on port security/safety by the participants. The workshop concluded with group presentations, an open forum, and a summary of conclusions and recommendations.
The workshop allowed WeCAPS to present and discuss a draft roadmap prepared by WMU. The final product aims to help strengthen the relevant national institutions, instruments and processes in port safety and security, as well as disaster management monitoring and response in Ghana.
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