Two Ghana Navy Ships, Ankobrah and Volta, recently embarked on a historic journey, sailing across the Equator to the Centre of the Earth at Longitude and Latitude 0.
The expedition included 84 members, including navy officers, journalists, and officials from the Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourism Authority. Covering a distance of about 611 kilometers in the Gulf of Guinea over 34 hours, the journey commenced on March 19, 2024, and concluded on March 21, 2024.
The primary purpose of the voyage was to showcase Ghana as the country closest to the Centre of the Earth and to test and enhance the operational readiness of officers from the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) Unit of the Ghana Navy in conducting maritime interdiction operations to secure the country’s maritime space.
Ghana’s unique geographical position places it closest to the intersection of the Greenwich meridian (longitude zero degrees) and latitude zero degrees, making it significant in maritime terms. The departure ceremony took place at the Eastern Naval Command in Tema, with the two ships setting off alongside a US Navy Ship, Hersel Woody Williams, and escorted by Ghana Navy Ship Aflao.
Both Ankobrah and Volta are 40-meter ships commissioned in 2022, primarily utilized for protecting the country’s territorial waters. Captained by Lieutenant Commander J. K Mohammed and Lieutenant Commander S.S Sarbah, the ships entered the Contiguous Zone of the Ghana Territorial Waters, approximately 24 nautical miles from Ghana’s shoreline.
Crossing the equator marked a significant milestone for the crew, symbolized by the traditional maritime ceremony of “Crossing the Line” or “equatorial baptism.” During this ritual, new sailors were initiated into the sailors’ fraternity by a crew member dressed as King Neptune, followed by the presentation of certificates and badges to confirm their new status.
After bidding farewell to the Hersel Woody Williams, the Ghanaian ships proceeded to the Western Naval Command in Secondi, Western Region. Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, the Chief of Naval Staff, commended the crew for their dedication, professionalism, and teamwork, emphasizing the significance of crossing the equator as a symbol of unity and the pursuit of excellence in fulfilling their mission.
