From Peacekeeping To Partnership: Gns Achimota Returns To Liberia 36 Years Later

Monrovia – The Ghana Navy Ship GNS ACHIMOTA sailed into Liberian waters this week for a very different reason than the last time it was here.

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

Decades ago, the vessel came as part of a regional peacekeeping force mission during Liberia’s brutal civil war. Before docking then at the Freeport of Monrovia, it was drawn into a fiery gun battle with the defunct Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), led by the late Nimba County Senator, Prince Y. Johnson – a breakaway faction of also the erstwhile National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL).

Now, it has returned as part of a regional effort to preserve that peace.

The ship was one of several participating in Operation ANOUANZE IV, the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre Zone F Joint Patrol, which concluded in Monrovia on Thursday, August 27.

A Ship That Carries History

The significance of ACHIMOTA’s return was highlighted by several speakers at the closing ceremony of Operation ANOUANZE IV.

They recalled that decades ago, GNS ACHIMOTA sailed these waters as part of Ghana’s contribution to ECOMOG operations in Liberia during a difficult period in the region’s history.

Today, that same ship has returned to Liberian waters under very different circumstances – not in response to conflict, but in the service of cooperation, maritime security and regional integration.

 Also participating was the Ivorian Navy Vessel Fadika.

The Current Mission

In an interview with FrontPage Africa (FPA), the Commander of the vessel, Kofi Duodu, emphasized the importance of the joint maritime security operation between Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia.

He said the mission focused on enforcing the aw in coastal waters by targeting illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, narcotics trafficking and environmental pollution.

Unlike historical military interventions for peacekeeping, Duodu noted that this modern collaboration is a friendly partnership aimed at fostering a prosperous blue economy through collective security.

He indicated that Ghanaian, Ivorian, and Liberian forces utilized shared doctrines to board and inspect vessels over a week-long period.

The commander also emphasized the cultural bond and “sibling” relationship between Ghana and Liberia, echoing the warm reception and linguistic connections found in Monrovia.

“The operation serves as a positive milestone in regional cooperation and maritime safety,” Commander Duodu said.

From Conflict Response To Maritime Security

ECOMOG, the ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group, was deployed to Liberia in the 1990s to help restore peace during the civil war. Ghana was one of the lead contributors to the mission.

This week’s patrol, which ran from August 24-27, focused on joint operations between ECOWAS Navies and Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies to combat piracy, armed robbery at sea, illicit trafficking and illegal fishing in the Gulf of Guinea.

The closing ceremony of Operation ANOUANZE IV at the Free Port of Monrovia was attended by Ghanaian, Ivorian and Liberian military personnel, development partners and Liberian government officials.

The Liberian Perspective

Armed Forces of Liberia Chief of Staff, Major General Davidson A. Forleh, detailed the significance of the mission from Liberia’s point of view.

For him, the primary objective was to bolster regional cooperation and increase maritime presence to combat persistent threats like piracy, illegal fishing and smuggling.

By facilitating the exchange of information and conducting joint patrols, Forleh said the participating nations aimed to safeguard essential trade routes and protect local livelihoods.

The AFL Chief emphasized that maritime safety is a shared duty that requires unified action from military and government stakeholders across borders.

Forleh also highlighted the necessity of international partnerships and expressed gratitude to the United Nations for supporting these vital defense efforts.