Large parts of this article are based on the article written by John Bediako in the newspaper from Ghana, The Chronicle.
Argentine Sailors on board the detained Fragata Libertad threatened to open fire on Ghanaian officials if they attempted to move the ship according to newspaper The Chronicle from Ghana.
In an interview with Argentine paper La Nacíon, director of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) Jacob Kwabla Adorkor confirmed The Chronicle’s report and said that there had been four sailors who had taken out their weapons.
Fragata Libertad in 2007 (Wikimedia)
“A rifle doesn’t scare me. But we expected that the Argentines would act professionally not as if we were at war! We didn’t have any weapons or ammo and we just went to talk with them…” he added.
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 2nd October, 2012, when the detention order went into force.
According to the GPHA, berth 11 at the Tema Port receives container vessels, and is considered one of the busiest quays, which is why they wanted Fragata Libertad to be shifted to the nearby berth six, which is not part of the busy zones at the port. Ships would usually pay up USD 60,000 to stay at berth 11.
By 6am on Wednesday, the Port Authority cut off the supply of electricity and water to the Libertad, in preparation for the movement to berth six.
At 6:15am, the Argentines lifted the gangway of the ship and emerged with rifles threatening the port officials.
For hours, the situation remained tense, until the Argentine Ambassador to Nigeria, also responsible for Ghana, arrived at the wharf to seek audience with the port officials to be allowed to get on board.
Her demand was not granted because the GPHA officials, in turn, asked that before the gangway was lowered, the sailors on board lay down their arms.
In the midst of the tense moments, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Akoto Bunso, intervened, and at exactly 3:45pm 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, and according to Kwabla Adorkor, “there is no more tension” despite the absence of dialogue between Ghanaians and Argentines.
This is the latest chapter in a conflict that has been on-going for over a month, in which Ghanaian authorities have detained the ship as potential payment to the vulture fund NML Capital, owners of part of Argentina’s debt.
Good for the Argentinean sailors.
These stupid Africans are still doing the bidding of their white (debt) slave masters, even while they are being killed off by the boatload each and every day via AIDS and other Yankee-engineered, manufactured, and deployed diseases (google ‘mycoplasm’).
I don’t know which is stranger, the humiliation of Argentina’s navy whose premier officer training ship is confiscated for non-payment of debt, or Michael’s incomprehensible, garbled ramblings.
The Govermant of Ghana need to relis Fragata Livertad and apologized for the inconviniance and president Cristina need to quit fucking around with fraudulent money embargos nor YPF nor NML. Should be renegotiate and pay but this Fragata Livertad need to be free ASAP in respect for the BIM5 and all the marines in tumbledown Malvinas as well inglish life’s lost this mockery got to Stop !!¡. Cristina
Genius comment by Eugene!
hahahaha
I am proud that my countrymen are defending our ship. I think it is also embarrassing that Greece did enter into default with their new schedule of payments but since American banks were the ones that sold so many CDS of Greece, decided that it was voluntary (which was not!) .. anyways, you’re failing to see the beauty of Michael’s heartened comment.. it is true, no matter what you guys say, that this powerful funds are USING GHANA in order to gain their prize and if it wasn’t for that, they wouldn’t give a fuck about Ghana nor its people… Or do you?
The only way to deal with African countries is showing “Fire power”. Argentinian should learn from the French, English and American armed forces.
Ghana does not have the authority, to retain a war ship, this could be an act of terror or war.
I must take this opportunity of congratulating Ghana..
Whilst the Ghanaian government did not wish this incident to land at their feet, they have handled it well and with great dignity.
The rule of law is the important point that must always be maintained.
Ghana whilst it may have lost considerable amounts of monies.
Ghana’s maturity in its handling of this occurrence I’m sure will reap far greater benefits in the future.
Investors will be able to see that their business arrangements will be protected in a fair and correct manner.
Thus improving confidence in this country.
We must also not forget two things:
Where did all the money that argentina defaulted on go..?
The monies that argentina gained under ‘false pretences’ belonged to pensioners..
It seems to me that the easy way out of this mess for argentina is to honour its debts and repay the monies, and refrain from acting either like a spoilt little child or the proverbial bully..
Kindest regards from the Falkland Islands