MONROVIA, LIBERIA, BARCLAY TRAINING CENTER (BTC): Staff of the Ministry of National Defense have benefited  from a week of Maritime Security Training. The training was done on Maritime Security Reporting.

The one-week training was held at the Corina Hotel in Sinkor, Monrovia. The training was attended by Peaches Sorboh, Director for Coast Guard Affairs and Emmanuel Sayonkon, Adininstrative Officer for Media Relations. The training also brought together personnel from the Liberia Immigration Service(LIS),  Liberia Maritime Authority, Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) , Ministry National Defense and the Armed Forces of Liberia. The training was provided by the Kofi  Annan Peacekeeping  International Training Centre.

Making remarks at the opening ceremony, the Acting Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. Edmund Yaw Obeng said there are numerous  crimes within the Gulf of  Guinea. He further mentioned that it is very difficult for media practitioners and  security personnel  responsible for Vessels traveling along the Gulf of Guinea to  clearly report on crimes due to lack of training and coordination among  them.

The Ghanaian Embassy Acting Head of Mission also said because of  the limited capacity within the maritime security sector, crimes, such as  piracy, sea arm rubbery,illegal blinkering, drugs trafficking, human trafficking, waste-dumping, and maritime terrorism are crimes within the Gulf of Guinea. He maintained that the training was necessary giving the huge security gap within the region and  will enable the required personnel to accurately  report on crimes that occur  on a daily basis within the domain of  the Gulf of Guinea.

Speaking during the closing ceremony, the Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre, Major General Richard Addo Gyane, said the training initiative by the Ghanaian counterpart is important due to the high rate of  piracy  and other  crimes taking place among neighbouring countries in the region.

Major General Gyane further encouraged the graduates to take advantage of the training which will allow them to properly report on the various crimes occurring in  the Gulf of Guinea.

Also speaking at the closing program,  Defense Assistant Minister for Coast Guard Affairs, Hon. Richard B. Kamara,  gave an overview of the Liberia  Coast Guard and its role in the maritime security. He further stressed the need for collaboration among the various  security  actors within the maritime domain as it is crucial to economic growth of not just Liberia, but Africa.

At the end of  the training, participants received certificates of achievement in Maritime Security Reporting.