Ghana event helps raise awareness of undersea high-tech infrastructure

The Submarine Cable Awareness Workshop was held recently in Accra, Ghana, in an effort to raise awareness and protect  international submarine cables and pipelines on the ocean's seabed offshore Ghana. This infrastructure provides Internet service and other trans-oceanic communications and data transfer in the region.

Attendees included Ghana government officials, International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) General Manager Keith Schofield, and representatives from the National Communications Agency, the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Fisheries Commission, Ghana Ports & Harbour Authority, Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association and representatives of carriers with submarine cables in Ghana's waters.

The ICPC's 160 members come from over 60 countries.

“This gathering provides an excellent foundation for increased communication and collaboration between different seabed interests to increase the resilience of Ghana’s international connections while paying due regard to other seabed users,” Schofield said. “Ghana’s proud progress in developing its international trade and economic development can be underpinned both by the protection of her critical infrastructure and by delivering Ghanaian solutions informed by international experience.”

This was the fifth year for the workshop, which is held to give those with technical, environmental of legal interests in submarine cables a chance to network.

For more information about ICPC, visit www.iscpc.org.