He expressed   regret at the reduction in the number of ships available to the Ghana Navy from 16 to 10. He said   that as part of government's efforts to retool the Ghana Armed Forces, the Navy  would take delivery of new ships as well as platoons. He said that a $200 million contract  had been signed to help protect offshore oil and gas infrastructure in the Western Region among others.

Mr Nitiwul   made these remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2019 International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Ghana Navy in Accra.

He emphasized that threats to maritime security in one nation affects other countries as well and urged the use of technology to promote information sharing in maritime security. "Currently, technological solutions have made it possible to have seamless information sharing through the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centers as part of the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy" he said.  

Mr Nitiwul  hoped the conference  would yield solutions that  would promote national development.

Despite the challenges facing the fishing industry, he noted that the industry continues to employ about 10 per cent of the population. He added that it  would be necessary to protect the maritime domain in Ghana in order to achieve the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda set by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo.

He identified illegal fishing, sea robbery, pirate activities among others as threats to the maritime industry which required collaboration between nations in the Gulf of Guinea to resolve.
Mr Nitiwul commended the Ghana Navy for evolving into a professional sea service as well as creating a conducive atmosphere   in the country.

Delivering his keynote speech, Chief of the Naval Staff, Ghana Navy, Rear Admiral Seth Amoama said that piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea continue to be a significant threat to both regional and international shipping waters across the African coast . He said that transnational crimes such as kidnapping for ransom   and theft threaten national and regional peace and stability.

Rear Admiral Amoama disclosed that measures such as sub-regional collaborations between neighboring countries to produce synergistic approach to deal with maritime crimes had been put in place. The approaches, he stated  included dialogues, information sharing, flag showing and goodwill.

He expressed gratitude to the Chief of the Nigerian Navy, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete for his show of solidarity.

He sited the signing of the Yaounde Code of Conduct as part of significant efforts made by countries in the Gulf of Guinea to deal with maritime crimes.   Rear Admiral Amoama said that other activities  had been put in place at the sub regional level aimed at addressing these threats.

Awards of appreciation were presented to selected officials .

The conference, which is being held on the theme "Empowering Regional Collaboration To Enhance Maritime Security and Regional Development in the Gulf of Guinea",  is on the 24th to the 25th of July 2019 at the Kempinsky GoldCoast Hotel in Accra. It is expected to engage over 300 delegates and exhibitors from 25 countries and 34 organisations.

Other guests at the conference were Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa; Chief of Defence Staff, Ghana, Major General WA Ayamdo; Chief of the Army Staff, Ghana, Air Vice Marshall F. Hanson; Chief of Air Staff, Ghana, Admiral James Foggo; Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, U.S Naval Forces Europe and U.S Naval Forces Africa as well as   officials from selected countries.