# Ghana awaits two OPVs, commissions Flex Fighter boats

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2022/03/ghana-awaits-two-opvs-commissions-flex-fighter-boats/
- Published: 2022-03-05T07:57:58+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

The Ghanaian Navy (GN) has commissioned it’s four new Flex fighter patrol boats,
and is awaiting the delivery of two other offshore patrol vessels.

The Flex fighters were commissioned on 25 February at the Sekondi-Takoradi Naval
Base in the Western Region by Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, after
being [delivered in early January from Singapore’s Penguin Shipyard.](https://www.military.africa/2022/01/ghana-navy-receives-four-new-40-metres-flex-fighter-vessels)

ADVERTISEMENT

> [Ghana Navy receives four new 40 metres Flex Fighter vessels](https://www.military.africa/2022/01/ghana-navy-receives-four-new-40-metres-flex-fighter-vessels/)

The four vessels are christened Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) Volta, GNS Densu, GNS Pra 
and GNS Ankobra, and are based on Singaporean Penguin Shipyard’s Flex 40 series 
of crew boats but fitted with all-around wheelhouse ballistic protection (STANAG
Level I), machinegun mounts with gunner shields forward and aft, and cabins and 
amenities for 12 security personnel.

The Ghanaian Navy will utilize [the four boats to protect its oil and gas assets in the Gulf of Guinea.](https://www.military.africa/2022/01/flex-fighters-to-protect-ghanaian-offshore-assets)

> [Flex Fighters to protect Ghanaian offshore assets](https://www.military.africa/2022/01/flex-fighters-to-protect-ghanaian-offshore-assets/)

“In addition to these four ships being commissioned today, Government is in the 
process of acquiring two offshore patrol vessels with high endurance limits, to 
maintain a constant presence at sea,” Akufo-Addo is reported by the Presidency as
saying.

ADVERTISEMENT

Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul disclosed during the **[International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEC 2019)](https://www.military.africa/2022/03/ghana-awaits-two-opvs-commissions-flex-fighter-boats/military.africa/2019/06/imdec-19-the-largest-gathering-maritime-stakeholders-in-africa)**
conference held in Accra on 24 July that Ghana will soon receive two unspecified
OPVs.

French shipbuilder Ocea, German shipyard Lürssen, and British engineering and services
company Babcock International are currently in the contest to supply OPVs to the
Ghanaian Navy.

Since the early last decade, Ghana has been steadily building its naval strength,
by [introducing new vessels and building a new base.](https://www.military.africa/2022/03/ghana-awaits-two-opvs-commissions-flex-fighter-boats/military.africa/2019/07/ghanaian-navy-builds-new-naval-base-orders-eight-patrol-vessels)

Currently, the Navy of Ghana has a total of 11 ships including four Snake-class 
patrol vessels, two Balsam-class patrol ships, one Chamsuri-class patrol boat, two
Albatros-class fast attack craft, and two Warrior-class/Gepard-class fast attack
craft.

Bu next year, United States’ [SAFE Boats International will supply two 38-foot (12 m) Defender class boats](https://www.military.africa/2022/03/ghana-awaits-two-opvs-commissions-flex-fighter-boats/military.africa/2021/09/us-to-supply-two-defender-class-boats-to-ghana)
along with trailers, spare parts, and training to the Ghanaian Navy to help in the
fight against piracy and other maritime crime.

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2017, China [donated four patrol boats to the Ghanaian navy](https://www.military.africa/2017/07/china-donates-naval-boats-to-the-ghanaian-and-ivory-coast-navy)
as part of a $7.5 million military assistance package to Ghana to enhance the military
cooperation between the two countries.

### _Related_