Accra, Oct. 8, GNA - A French navy ship, Jules Verne, would pay a visit to Ghana from October 11-16. It would visit to Tema Harbour from October 11-12 and Sekondi Naval Base from October 13-16, a statement from the French Embassy in Accra said. It said the French multi purpose workshop ship would dock on October 11 to pay a routine call to Ghana in the course of her regular missions along the West coast of Africa. She will depart on October 12 towards Sekondi Naval Base in order to carry out the same call from October 13-16.

"The purpose of the visits is to reinforce the existing ties between the French and the Ghanaian Naval Forces," it said. Under command of Commander Thierry Ruffier, the ship has a staff of 17 officers, 162 petty officers and 72 seamen. She had already paid a port call to Ghana in August.

The statement said the main role of the ship, the French Navy's biggest supply ship, is the operational service support for a Navy Task Force and/or amphibious expeditionary unit deployed in the frame of overseas operations.

The programme during the visit would include training on board, security, bridge training, tactical network, evaluation of diving equipment and sports.