Accra, Oct. 10, GNA - Defence Minister Kwame Addo-Kufuor on Tuesday appealed to the United Kingdom (UK) Government to assist the Ghana Navy to refurbish its old vessels and procure new one to enhance its capacity to protect the country's coastline and marine resources. He noted that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) had many needs but the current pressing preoccupation was to provide adequate resources to the Ghana Navy to ensure maritime security.

Dr Addo-Kufuor, however, commended the Ghana Navy saying: 93The Navy, in spite of its limited resources and rather slender budget, has performed creditably in attempts to confront criminal activities and security threats."

Dr Addo-Kufuor made the appeal when the United Kingdom's Director of Policy and Defence Relations, Mr Jeremy Jarvies called on him at the Burma Camp in Accra.

Mr Javies' visit is primarily to review bilateral agreements between his country and the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

To buttress his point, Dr Addo-Kufuor told Mr Jeremy that among some of the problems Ghana currently faced were illicit trade and many criminal activities in the maritime zone, which posed a serious threat to the security of the nation and the general wellbeing of her people. He said the MOD was grateful to the British Government for the support it had given to Ghana over the years, particularly to the defence sector, and expressed the hope that his appeal would be considered.

Mr Jarvies, who leaves on Tuesday for Nigeria, said he would review projects that the British Government had undertaken in Ghana, especially the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre.