The Embassy of Denmark in Accra hosted an event for World Maritime Day. This event also marked the 10-year milestone of the Danish Maritime Security Programme for the Gulf of Guinea.
Partners from maritime security, commercial, and regulatory sectors attended. The event featured an exhibition showcasing maritime art.
This year’s theme is “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence.” It reflects Denmark’s efforts to implement international maritime policies in the Gulf of Guinea. Ambassador Jakob Linulf emphasized Denmark’s collaboration with Ghana on maritime issues.
“As a seafaring nation, Denmark understands safe seas and freedom of navigation,” said Ambassador Linulf. He noted that Denmark has worked with Ghana for a decade to ensure safe sea lanes in the Gulf of Guinea. These lanes are crucial for international trade and economic development.
Denmark began implementing the Danish Maritime Security Programme for the Gulf of Guinea in 2016. This programme is funded by the Danish Peace and Stabilization Fund. Currently in its third phase (2022-2026), it addresses maritime criminal justice through diplomacy, development assistance, and military support.
Denmark’s support focuses on three pillars. The first is normative work, which develops legal frameworks for maritime security aligned with regional standards like the Yaoundé Code of Conduct and UNCLOS.
The second pillar is capacity building for military personnel and civilian law enforcement actors. This training involves partners such as UNODC, INTERPOL, KAIPTC, and Royal Danish Defence College. The final pillar emphasizes equipment and infrastructure support to enhance operational capabilities.
Denmark remains committed to international frameworks promoting freedom of navigation and maritime safety. Approximately 90% of global trade by volume is transported by sea.
The art exhibition included works by Ghanaian and international artists Emmanuel Aggrey Tieku, Fang Wang Linulf, and Patrick Tagoe-Turkson. Their pieces addressed themes like maritime pollution and coastal realities in the Gulf of Guinea while raising awareness about ocean ecology and governance issues.
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