The French Warship, LHD Tonnerre, a Mistral-class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), has docked at the Port of Tema on Tuesday, 30 September 2025 for a joint training exercise with the Ghana Navy.

The four-day exercise which is aimed at strengthening cooperation and improving interoperability between the two navies will feature medical exchanges, professional interactions to enhance teamwork in naval operations, and the 2025 Regional Onboard and Digital Training Course (SIREN), which focuses on maritime rescue, pollution control, anti-piracy, crisis management, and regional cooperation.

The Captain of LHD Tonnerre, Naval Captain Arnaud Bolelli, together with the French Defence Attaché to Ghana, Colonel Grégoire Madelin paid a courtesy call on the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Commodore Solomon Asiedu-Larbi, at his office in relation to the exercise.

Captain Bolelli noted that the presence of Tonnerre reflects the strong trust and long-standing partnership between the two countries in safeguarding the Gulf of Guinea and reaffirmed the commitment of France to strengthening defence ties with the Ghana Armed Forces.

Commodore Asiedu-Larbi welcomed the initiative, describing it as a valuable platform to enhance professional exchanges and operational readiness. He assured Captain Bolelli of the full participation of the Ghana Navy in the exercises and expressed confidence that the collaboration would further advance maritime security and regional stability.