Innovation, regional cooperation key to maritime security in Gulf of Guinea
A regional conference in Accra, Ghana (2-3 December) has underscored the role of innovation and regional cooperation in strengthening maritime security, which is essential for sustainable economic development in the Gulf of Guinea.
Organized by IMO, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the German Federal Foreign Office and the Atlantic Centre under the theme, ‘Maritime Security Conference 2025: Innovations and Partnerships for the Future’, the event convened senior government officials, naval authorities, regional organizations, industry experts, and development partners.
In his opening remarks, Ghana’s Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, outlined three priorities for Western and Central Africa: strengthening regional cooperation through the Yaoundé Code of Conduct (YCoC); engaging the private sector actively; promoting greater inclusiveness across youth, gender and communities.
Delegates examined the changing maritime security landscape in the Gulf of Guinea, where climate pressures, people trafficking, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU), and transnational criminality increasingly intersect with traditional maritime threats.
Technologies and partnerships for maritime security
The conference showcased scalable technologies to enhance maritime domain awareness and operational response, including satellite and drone surveillance systems, AI-based risk mapping tools, and plastic-to-fuel conversion solutions.
Sessions focused on public–private cooperation to enhance security in ports and along maritime trade routes. Stakeholders called for reliable incident reporting, transparent governance and sustained compliance with key IMO instruments, including the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) under SOLAS Chapter XI-2.
Finally, they explored linkages between maritime security, community resilience and blue economy development, particularly on youth training, sustainable fisheries and gender equality in the maritime sector.
Supporting the Yaoundé Code of Conduct
Participants agreed to work together on improvements to the Yaoundé Architecture, which supports cooperation among regional agencies to promote maritime security.
These efforts align with the objectives of the Boosting African Implementation of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct (BAY) project. Funded by Germany and implemented by IMO, the project supports YCoC implementation, national and regional coordination and the operational effectiveness of the Yaoundé Architecture. The YCOC was adopted in 2013 by 25 West and Central African States as a framework for addressing piracy, armed robbery and other illicit maritime activities in the region.
Source : IMO
