Friday, November 9, 2012
Reports say sailors at Libertad Frigate threatened to open fire
Armed sailors on board the detained Libertad frigate in Ghana threatened to open fire on Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority (GPHA) officials, if they attempted to move the ship from berth 11 to berth six, at the Tema Port, according to reports of "The Chronicle" local newspaper.
The Chronicle's investigations at the port revealed that the GPHA's action was a result of a motion they filed at the High Court, Commercial Division, for the frigate to be shifted from a commercial berth she had been occupying since October 2, 2012, when the detention order went into force.
For hours, the situation remained tense, until the Argentine Ambassador to Nigeria, also responsible for Ghana, arrived at wharf to seek audience with the port officials to be allowed to get on board, but that did not materialize.
In the midst of the tense moments, the Flag officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Akoto Bunso, came and intervened, and that at exactly 1545 hours on Wednesday, the gangway was lowered, but as soon the envoy got on board, the sailors lifted it to its former position.
The ambassador remained on board the detained frigate trying to speak to the armed crew, who only laid down their arms later in the evening.
The Chronicle's investigations at the port revealed that the GPHA's action was a result of a motion they filed at the High Court, Commercial Division, for the frigate to be shifted from a commercial berth she had been occupying since October 2, 2012, when the detention order went into force.
For hours, the situation remained tense, until the Argentine Ambassador to Nigeria, also responsible for Ghana, arrived at wharf to seek audience with the port officials to be allowed to get on board, but that did not materialize.
In the midst of the tense moments, the Flag officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Akoto Bunso, came and intervened, and that at exactly 1545 hours on Wednesday, the gangway was lowered, but as soon the envoy got on board, the sailors lifted it to its former position.
The ambassador remained on board the detained frigate trying to speak to the armed crew, who only laid down their arms later in the evening.
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