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USCGC Mohawk (WMEC 913) arrives in Tema, Ghana

23 August 2022

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Public Affairs

TEMA, Ghana -The Famous-class medium endurance USCGC Mohawk (WMEC 913) arrived in Tema, Ghana for a scheduled port visit, Aug. 23, 2022.

The visit will include engagement opportunities with Ghanaian military and government leaders, including ship tours and a reception aboard Mohawk.

“We look forward to continuing to build upon our shared interests in security cooperation.” said Cmdr. Andrew Pate, commanding officer aboard USCGC Mohawk (WMEC 913). “We are stronger when we work together to address the shared transnational maritime challenges in the region.”

The United States and Ghana have a proud history of working together to promote peace, stability, and security in Africa. Over the last decade, the United States has steadily increased maritime security cooperation with partners on Africa’s Atlantic coast to improve maritime domain awareness capability to protect their sovereign waters.

“Ghana continues to demonstrate its leadership and commitment to regional security. We are very proud of the security cooperation partnership that we enjoy,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Vallianos, acting OSC chief to U.S Embassy Accra. “We look forward to increasing bi-lateral and regional engagements such as the Mohawk visit, as Ghana continues to export stability throughout the region.”

This month Ghana also hosted the U.S.-Danish led Maritime Operations Planning Workshop (MOPW) in Accra. MOPW allows junior officers from African navies and coast guards to exchange operational planning experiences and collaborate on real-world operations.

In March, Ghana participated in exercise Obangame Express 2022, the largest annual maritime security exercise in Western Africa. These types of exercises strengthen partnerships and allow countries to work more closely on shared transnational maritime challenges.

The U.S. shares a common interest with African partner nations in ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation on the waters surrounding the continent, because these waters are critical for Africa’s prosperity and access to global markets.

Mohawk is forward-deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) area of operations, while employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet.

Mohawk is the 13th and last of the Famous-class cutters. It is named for the Algonquin tribe of Iroquoian Indians who lived in the Mohawk Valley of New York. Mohawk is the third cutter to bear the name. Mohawk’s parent command is U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area.

U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia, oversees all Coast Guard operations east of the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf, spanning across five Coast Guard districts and 40 states.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. 

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

  
 

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