Judges, prosecutors learn about operations of Tema Port

In an effort to ensure the speedy prosecution of cases involving illegal fishing and its trafficking in the maritime sector, selected judges and prosecutors from West and Central Africa have visited the Tema Port to familiarise themselves with operations in the sector.

The visit, coordinated by the United States (US) Embassy in Accra, was aimed at building the capacity of the 36 judges and prosecutors drawn from Ghana, Togo, the Republic of Congo, Gabon and Nigeria in respect of the dangers that illegal fishing and trafficking posed to the maritime trade.

The programme also aimed at exposing the participants to the cost burden of placing injunctions and seizure notices on vessels anchored at the ports.

The judges also discussed different ways of building stronger cases in order to prevent the theft of resources in West and Central Africa.

Director of Ports

The Director of Ports at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Mr Jacob Kobla Adorkor, who received the delegation, said the Tema port had undergone several changes aimed at making it more efficient. 

Taking them through the GPHA key installations such as the surveillance and security units and the new refrigerated terminal, among other parts, Mr Adorkor told the team that the port expansion project would create more opportunities and challenges that would require the intervention of judges and prosecutors.

He expressed the view that when vessels and their agents and owners engaged in legal battles “court injunctions and seizure notices served on their movement create congestion in the port space and also create financial challenges for the port authority,”

Mr Adorkor also pointed out that such seizure notices placed on vessels compromised port security.

“A speedy adjudication of cases would help port administrations mitigate the disastrous effects stationary vessels on anchorage could pose to others calling at the port,” Mr Adorkor stated.

He expressed the hope that the training and visit would equip the judges and prosecutors with a better understanding of the maritime environment.

US Embassy

The First Secretary in charge of Regional Environment Office at the US Embassy, Ms Karen Bel, said Ghana had lost substantial revenue through illegal fish trafficking on the sea.

She also said seaports were being used as a haven for stolen resources from several African countries.

A Senior Counsel at the US Department of Justice, Mr David Gualtieri, said illegal fishing and logging had been identified as major problems West and Central Africa faced.

Writer’s email: della.russel@graphic.com.gh