International naval and defence leaders to speak at IMDEC in Accra

Twenty captains, commodores and admirals will join delegates discussing illegal oil-bunkering, piracy, unregulated fishing, smuggling, and trafficking at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference (IMDEC), which takes place 24-25 July 2019 in Accra, Ghana. Piracy, illegal fishing, and armed robberies are all major issues threatening the Gulf of Guinea region and are threats that not only disrupt regional stability but also hinder economic development. Therefore, international and intergovernmental players are being brought together to try to change the situation. The Ghanaian Navy will play host to over 10 Chiefs of Navies from across Africa, along with 250 international senior officials from Navies, Coast Guards and Marine Police at IMDEC. IMDEC’s ribbon cutting ceremony will be attended by Ghana’s Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the Hon. Dominic Aduna Bingab Nitiwul, Minister of Defence, among other dignitaries. Rear Admiral Seth Amoama, Chief of Naval Staff, Ghana Navy, will present the opening keynote. Khalila Baldwin, IMDEC’s Conference Director said: “Our vision is for IMDEC to become the premier gathering of maritime leaders within the Gulf of Guinea. In keeping with this year’s theme, empowering collaboration to enhance maritime security, we are happy to host maritime agencies from across Africa, Europe, Asia, North and South America as well as the globes leading solution providers to collectively improve maritime security.” “Further, it is our distinct pleasure to host this event alongside the Ghana Navy during their 60th Anniversary celebrations,” Baldwin added. Commander Oded Breier, Vice-President Marketing, Israel Shipyards Ltd, will present a speech about threats and solutions for maritime and coastal defence, while Admiral James Foggo, Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, US Naval Forces Europe, and US Naval Forces Africa, will discuss International Collaboration Insights. IMDEC will also incorporate an international exhibition.