UG OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH TEAM EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO GHANA NAVY

A delegation from the University of Ghana's Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, together with collaborators from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA, visited the Naval Headquarters to express their appreciation to the Ghana Navy for its support of the ongoing Ocean Margins Initiative (OMI) project on Tuesday 29 April, 2025.

The OMI is a collaborative research effort closely aligned with Ghana’s national priorities in advancing ocean health, strengthening maritime security, and enhancing climate resilience to promote sustainable management of Ghana’s ocean resources.

The team led by Dr. Edem Mahu, Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana and Lead Scientist for the Ocean Margins Initiative in Ghana, commended the Ghana Navy for its vital support in deploying a research vessel - GNS AFLAO, which has played a central role in the project’s offshore operations. She noted that the partnership with the Ghana Navy was not only impactful but also strategically meaningful to the success and sustainability of the project.

Dr. Mahu outlined key milestones achieved through the collaboration between the University of Ghana’s Ocean Margins Initiative and the Ghana Navy, notably the successful deployment of two oceanographic moorings, the first of their kind in Ghana, and the measurements of several essential ocean variables. She further pledged, on behalf of the research team, to enhance the visibility of the Navy’s contribution by duly acknowledging them in all project-related publications and ensuring that all project data is shared with the Navy.

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing on his part, thanked the delegation for the visit and reiterated the importance of collaborative efforts with UG Department of Marine and Fisheries in advancing research and development.

Rear Admiral Bessing reaffirmed the Ghana Navy's commitment to its partnership with the University’s Oceanographic Survey Team, emphasizing the collaboration's significance in supporting the Navy's Hydrography Department.

He presented a plaque to the leader of the Ocean Margin Initiative Project, in strengthening the partnership between the two institutions.