The Ministry of Interior has sought to downplay any reports that Ghana’s territorial waters have become porous as a result of the arrest of 8 suspected Nigerian pirates.
The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has begun interrogating the suspects who were arrested over the weekend.
[contextly_sidebar id=”b0P1quYep46lYeRPqSyH2hshMgxY76DG”]After investigations, the BNI is expected to present a docket on the case to the Interior Ministry for onward submission to the Attorney General’s Department for advice.
The Deputy Interior Minister, James Agalga stressed that the nation’s territorial waters are being safeguarded by government.
“Some time ago, we had a similar incident and I made it very clear that government has invested a lot in maritime security so we are safe.”
The suspected pirates were arrested last Saturday by the Eastern Naval Command of the Ghana Navy in Tema, for hijacking a fuel vessel on the high seas of Nigeria.
The pirates then steered the vessel, MV Mariam which was carrying about 1,500 tonnes of crude oil into Ghana’s territorial waters.
An alert by the owner of the vessel enabled the Ghana Navy to arrest the suspects.
Mr Agalga in an interview with Citi News congratulated the security agencies for the prompt response to the situation.
“Let me extend our congratulations to the security agencies; the Ghana Navy and the Marine Police. All of them have worked very hard to ensure that our waters are dangerous for pirates,” he remarked.
He gave the assurance that the arrested pirates are “firmly in the custody of the security agencies and appropriate action is going to be taken at the right time.”
The Deputy Interior Minister indicated that after the docket has been prepared and forwarded to the Attorney General who is the principal legal advisor to government, the necessary steps will be taken.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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