General News of Wednesday, 21 March 2001

Source: GNA

British Naval Ship Visits Ghana

A British naval warship, HMS Glasgow, on Tuesday berthed at the Tema Harbour for a five-day visit that is aimed at reinforcing ties between the United Kingdom (UK) and Ghana.

The warship, a Type 42 Destroyer deployed from the UK early last month, is due to return to its homeport of Portsmouth on the south coast of England in August.

The ship, with a compliment of 280 all ranks, came from Sierra Leone where she had been supporting UK and United Nations interest in the region.

During her deployment, the ship will visit a number of African countries in West Africa and the South Atlantic, including Senegal, Angola, Namibia and South Africa.

The Commanding Officer, Commander Alasdair Ireland, called on the Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Sampa Nunoo and the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku.

He told newsmen at a press briefing that there were no plans to conduct a joint training exercise with the Ghana Navy because of time constraints.

However, the ship's sports team would engage the Ghana Navy and some British expatriates in a variety of sporting events.