USS Nashville (LPD 13) arrived in Sekondi, Ghana on February 20, 2009, the second African port of its five-month deployment in support of Africa Partnership Station.

APS is an international initiative, led by U.S. Naval Forces Africa, which aims to work cooperatively with U.S., European, and African partners to enhance maritime safety and security on the African continent. To conduct its programs, APS utilizes an international team of expert trainers in a variety of military capacities and a handful of civilian fields such as fisheries management, port security and meteorology.

Familiarization events are conducted as requested by partner countries. In Ghana, that means traditional military training, such as engineering and small boat handling, plus a handful of specialty areas.

"This initiative has been built at the request of African partners, and we execute it side-by-side with an embarked team of officers and civilian specialists from 20 different countries," said Captain Cindy Thebaud, Africa Partnership Station Nashville commander. "This fact should send a clear message. The responsibility of maritime security truly is a global effort."

Thebaud leads an international staff consisting of naval officers from 18 countries on four different continents, including two officers from the Ghanaian navy. The international staff is in addition to the Nashville's crew, commanded by Captain Tushar Tembe.

During their port visit to Ghana, APS crew members will conduct seminars, workshops and hands-on training with Ghanaian sailors, covering topics such as port security planning, small boat maintenance, medical training, search and rescue training, and oceanographic methods. Additionally, APS will conduct community relations projects in each of the countries visited. All of the activities are based on specific requests from Ghanaian officials.

"We see APS as a promising U.S. Navy-led initiative that, along with our international partners, will create the foundation for future regional cooperation in meeting our common maritime concerns," said Lieutenant Commander James Agambire, Ghana Navy.