Retired Air Vice Marshal Frank Hanson has cautioned that Africa continues to underestimate the growing threats of maritime insecurity, warning that the continent risks losing out on the vast opportunities of the blue economy if the trend persists.

Speaking at the opening of a three-day training workshop on Maritime Security, Safety and the Blue Economy in the Gulf of Guinea for journalists and media practitioners on Tuesday, Air Vice Marshal Hanson (Rtd) said Africa’s limited attention to ocean governance and maritime security poses a serious challenge to its economic future.

He explained that “ocean or sea blindness” is one of the main reasons the Gulf of Guinea, a vital maritime constituency does not receive the same level of attention as even “something small as a parliamentary bye-election in Akwatia.”

“We talk so little about the ocean that we risk overlooking the opportunities of the blue economy and underestimate the threats of maritime insecurity,” he said. “By failing to see their origins, we fail to see a wider part of who we are.”

He underscored the importance of the Gulf of Guinea to Africa’s trade, security, and sustainable development, describing it as the continent’s “Wall Street, IMF and World Bank combined.”

“Yet, paradoxically, the maritime space remains the least spoken about. Our policymakers, and even our communities, rarely give it the attention it deserves,” he added.

The economic significance of the Gulf of Guinea, he noted, cannot be overstated. The region accounts for an estimated $240 billion in annual trade, with over 80% of Ghana’s exports valued at approximately $18 billion as of August 2025 passing through its waters.

Despite this, maritime security continues to receive limited policy attention, leaving the corridor vulnerable to piracy, illegal fishing, and trafficking.

Addressing the participants, Air Vice Marshal Hanson stressed the pivotal role of the media in changing this narrative.

“Your role as journalists and media practitioners is critical. You are the bridge between these hidden realities and public consciousness.

“This training is designed to equip you with the knowledge, tools, and perspectives to cover maritime security and safety with accuracy, depth, and urgency, while also shining a light on the vast opportunities that the blue economy presents,” he said.

The post “We underestimate the threats of maritime insecurity” — Air Vice Marshal Frank Hanson appeared first on The Herald ghana.

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