Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area, has said maintenance of peace in the country should be the responsibility of all.

He said maintenance of peace should not be left only to the government, as civil society had a role to play and has a stake in it.

Nana Kobina Nketsia said this on Wednesday when Captain William Warrender, the commander of HMS Dauntless, a British warship that is on a three-day visit to the Western Naval Command, paid him a courtesy call at Essikado near Takoradi.

He appealed to the Royal Navy to share ideas with their Ghanaian counterparts on the maintenance of peace, because peace is necessary for development to take place.

Nana Kobina Nketsia said piracy had become a problem and whatever assistance that the Royal Navy would give to the Ghana Navy to meet this problem head on would be greatly appreciated.

"Piracy can affect fishing and the Ghana Navy should be assisted to protect fishermen on the high seas", he said.

Captain Warrender said the ship, which is about three years old, is on a seven-month mission to the sub-region and during the period, the crew would interact with navies of various countries including South Africa and Nigeria.

He said the primary objective of the mission is to ensure maritime security to promote international trade.**