Gov’t should revamp the national shipping company-group

A group calling itself the “Maritime Professionals Club” (MPC) has called on government to as a matter of urgency take the necessary steps needed to see to it that the national shipping line and the dry dock are revamped in order to see Ghana achieve the betterment of the marine sector including the full realization of its socio-economic benefits.
 A couple of decades ago, the country used to own its own vessels through the national shipping line known as the Black Star Line (BSL).  The BSL owned lots of vessels that embarked upon regular sailing schedules around the world.

In the late 70’s the BSL owned some of the top 16000 tonner vessels that marshaled export commodities like cocoa from those big silos around the Tema port to be exported to other countries. Vessels like Keta, Tano, Sissili and the Volta flew the national flag and carried with it the identity and pride of the nation to which ever port they called.

The Black Star Line however couldn’t stand the test of time due to what some experts believed to be the results of poor leadership coupled with corruption and poor corporate governance robbing the once enviable shipping line of its pride.

The wanton demise of the national shipping line, the sale of the state fishing corporation, the Tema dry dock over the years has brought untold hardship to many Ghanaian fisher folks and a colossal loss to the country out of economic benefits accruing from the maritime sector.

Ever since the collapse of the national shipping line, with the sale of its ships and assets and its office complex taken over by freight forwarders whiles its staff integrated themselves as much as they can with the other sectors of the shipping industry, no government has made any effort to revamp the national shipping line irrespective of the enormous benefits it would bring to the country.
But President John Mahama in the recently launched 2016 NDC’s Manifesto promised to revamp the National Shipping Line when retained in power come January 7 to further position Ghana in the World Maritime Industry.

According to the MPC: “Our appeal to government is that the desire should translate to a mission with a vision to achieve the ultimate for the betterment of the maritime sector in Ghana and the realization of the socio-economic benefits it brings”
The group said for gov’t to achieve its dream, it will require enactment of  policies as well as adopt right strategies aimed at redirecting and enhancing the total development of all resources in the maritime industry.  Furthermore, it must ensure that policy framework is in place aimed at creating the enabling environment for private sector participation in quest to revamp the national shipping line and Tema dry dock and by extension other dormant institutions relevant to improving the maritime sector in Ghana.

Speaking at press conference held on Wednesday October 12, 2016, 1st Vice President of the group, Ing. Teddy Mensah appealed to Government to ensure inclusion of and participation of qualified and experienced maritime professionals in policy formulation, technical coordination, operational and managerial roles to enhance knowledge based hands on operation.

The news conference was to remind government and politicians going into the December general elections of the need to prioritize investment in maritime infrastructure when voted into power.

According to Engineer Teddy Mensah, achieving the desired objectives which will translate into improvement of the maritime sector and lifting up the flag of Ghana at home and abroad will require strategic corporation and development of several organizations like the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), the Regional Maritime University, Tema Drydock Limited, Ministry of transport and its allies. 

He therefore called on the above institutions as well as other well-meaning professional bodies in the maritime industry to partner with gov’t to see to the early revamping of the BSL.

The Maritime Professionals Club is made up of group of Ghanaian experts operating in various capacities within the marine industry in Ghana and across the globe.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR MORE NEWS: 

http://awakeafrica.com/govt-revamp-national-shipping-company-group/ 

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