MARITIME SECURITY REPORTING COURSE – TAKORADI

22 MAY 2023

The Gulf of Guinea, a crucial maritime domain in West and Central Africa, faces numerous challenges that threaten the safety, security, and blue economy of its stakeholders. From piracy and illegal fishing to drug trafficking and environmental crimes, the region requires integrated responses to safeguard its maritime activities. So far, legal and operational interventions have been established with little to no attention on a critical stakeholder – the Media. Media practitioners, particularly journalists, are critical stakeholders in addressing maritime security challenges. However, many journalists lack the necessary knowledge and expertise in this complex and dynamic domain, limiting their ability to report accurately and effectively.

In this context, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) with funding from the Danish Government have launched a 5-year project aimed at addressing these challenges among other maritime threats and fostering collaboration among maritime stakeholders. As part of the activities under this project, the KAIPTC organized a pilot course on Maritime Security Reporting from 22-26 May 2023 in Takoradi to equip media practitioners with the required skills and understanding to report accurately on maritime security issues, contributing to transparent and inclusive maritime response initiatives. The course thus recognizes the role of journalists in Maritime Security as validators of the work of maritime actors and as watch dogs for the public.