Finland has agreed to fund a two-year coast guard development project in Ghana. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Paavo Väyrynen, approved the interest subsidy on 3rd March 2011.
The EUR 14,6 million will be used to develop coast guarding on the coast and riverbanks in Ghana and Lake Volta. The project will commence this year, and is planned to end in 2013.
Ghana is becoming one of the most significant commercial ports in West Africa. However, the country is still facing some challenges before it can comply with all the International Maritime Organization’s safety and security regulations.
The aim of the project is to improve maritime safety and security in Ghana, as well as tackling illegal importing and piracy. One of the benefits will be also ensuring fishermen’s livelihood by combating illegal fishing.
The project will be mostly carried out by two Finnish companies. Project management, administration, setting up and importing will be handled by Eltel, a company specialised in combining electricity, telecom and IT. Most of the equipment will be provided by Navielektro, a company specialised in maritime surveillance and communication systems.
