ABOUT GoGMI
The Gulf of Guinea (GoG) Region is defined as the sea area enclosed between the coastal states from Cote D’Ivoire to Angola. Countries in the Gulf include Cote D’Ivoire Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroun, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon and Angola. The area abounds in crude oil and fishery resources and is becoming increasingly attractive to the major powers of the world. It is assessed that the Region would in time equal or even surpass the Persian Gulf in crude oil production. It is also a highly unstable Region. Competition among the major powers for control of the Region’s resources could lead to Cold War style proxy wars and more insecurity in the Region. The recent fierce competition between Exxon Mobil of the USA and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) through the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to buy Cosmos Energy’s stock in Ghana’s Jubilee Oil Field attests to the likelihood of these proxy conflicts.
There is the need for governments in the GoG Region to have the requisite information based on strategic maritime security analysis in addition to any economic and political dynamics to make sound decisions in such circumstances. It is important that such information originates from indigenous rather than external sources.
Currently there is no active indigenous institute dedicated to strategic maritime research, advocacy and consultancy in the GoG. Continued reliance on information and assessments from agencies outside the region does not augur well for the interests of the countries in the Region. These information and assessments are mostly based on the interests of the source countries and agencies.
The Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute (GoGMI) is designed to fill the void. It is a non-profit research organization incorporated in Ghana. It constitutes a ‘think-tank’ for maritime strategic thinkers, practitioners and allies to interact, share ideas and research into strategic maritime affairs affecting the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) Region. The Institute’s core business is strategic maritime research, consultancy and advocacy in the areas of safety, security and environment in the Ghanaian and the Gulf of Guinea Maritime space at large. The main objective of GoGMI is to produce recognized research and provide solutions from an indigenous perspective, thereby addressing the current imbalance in the Region’s maritime studies, where local opinion and interests are under-represented.
VISION
Our vision is to become the lead research and advocacy institute in strategic maritime affairs in the GoG Region.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the GoGMI is to provide an intellectual base to governments, organizations, corporate bodies and individuals whose activities impinge upon the maritime domain of the GoG Region to ensure a sustainable use of the sea. We will do that by research and advocacy in strategic maritime issues affecting the Region in order to influence policies and activities affecting the maritime environment of the Region. In conducting our business we shall uphold the values of independence, accuracy and fairness.
BUSINESS MODEL
The driving force behind GoGMI is the achievement of excellence in strategic maritime research, education, media and consultancy services. GoGMI is a pioneering interdisciplinary organization that aims to provide knowledge for all, using a variety of mediums to overcome traditional barriers. As a non-profit research organization, GoGMI’s business model is unique in that it relies on its virtual community to generate revenue required to produce research and education solutions. The model is a self-perpetuating cycle that ensures the Institute’s independence and ability to respond to the needs of the GoG Region. Contributors from within the Institute and its network of experts create the content which is then disseminated through a variety of channels including periodic publications, books, seminars, conferences and the internet and made available to the community of people interested in the study of the maritime domain of the region.
