Ghana Cements Its Ties With SA

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Captain Mike A. Boucher exchanging badges with Caption Commodore Stephen Darbo. INSET: SAS Spioenkop docked at the Tema port

Captain Mike A. Boucher exchanging badges with Caption Commodore Stephen Darbo. INSET: SAS Spioenkop docked at the Tema port

A SOUTH AFRICAN war ship, SAS Spioenkop, has docked at the Tema Port as part of efforts to deepen the international tie with Ghana and monitor maritime security on the West African Coast.

SAS Spioenkop would conduct a three day exercise which would include a training exercise and anti-piracy boarding training, with the aim to build and maintain co-operation with other navies along the West African coast.

The SAS Spioenkop has a crew of 180, made up of 25 females, together with Maritime Reaction Squadron (MRS) members and four specialists from the South African Military Health Services (SAMS) to attend to healthcare matters.

Captain Boucher briefed the media about the works of the entire team of the ship and informed journalists about the Navy?s readiness to track down piracy on the Gulf of Guinea and the Niger Delta.

He further mentioned that SAS Spioenkop would also act as a display platform for the South African Defence Industry where they would be exhibiting various defence industry products.

He added that  the warship would be visiting Walvis Bay in Namibia, Luanda at Angola, and Lagos in Nigeria prior to arriving in Dakar-Senegal where the ship would support the South African contingent participating at the 4th Sea Power for Africa Symposium (SPAS) which would begin on  November 4-8, 2013.

Earlier, Captain Boucher and his team paid a courtesy call on Commodore Stephen Darbo to formally inform him about their arrival before visiting the Tema Traditional Council where they met with the Tema Mantse.

Both Naval teams exchanged badges and discussed matters of maritime surveillance within Ghana and the coastal areas.

The Eastern Naval Flag Officer thanked the South African navy for their kind gesture and assured them of Ghana?s assistance in all their endeavour of maritime concern.

From Vincent Kubi, Tema

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