The First-Vice of the Maritime Professionals Club (MPC), a professional body of mariners, Ing. Teddy Mensah, has called on government to formulate a policy that will create the right environment for increased private sector participation in the sea trade sector.
This, he said, was the best way to revive the dormant and defunct maritime structures to expand the economic fortunes of the buoyant commercial hub to cushion national growth.
“Government must put up a policy framework that will create the right environment for private participation to aid the revamping of dormant maritime structures to expand the economic fortunes of the buoyant sea trade sector,” Ing. Teddy Mensah said.
He said this at a press conference organised by the group of mariners to draw government and public attention to pertinent issues in the sector.
Most economically viable maritime resources that were established shortly after independence in 1957 with the exception of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA)—operator of the Tema and Takoradi ports—and the Regional Maritime University (RMU) are either defunct or currently operating below par.
The PSC Tema Shipyard and Dry Dock Company, State Fishing Corporation and the national shipping line, Black Star Line, are a few of such maritime enterprises that have either collapsed or facing imminent closure.
Reviving the defunct national shipping line, the Black Star Line, has been touted to be a booster to the maritime sector as it will position the country firmly in the transport of cargo at a time that increased cargo throughput has enhanced commercial activities at the country’s two seaports.
According to the group, the establishment of a national shipping line will enhance the country’s fortunes on the global trade fronts and reposition the sea trade sector to drive the economy.
Ing. Mensah argued: “The current situation demands increased investment from the private sector to government to harness the various maritime structures to rake in the most gains from the lucrative sea trade sector as a port country.
He said with the needed investments, most of these non-performing maritime infrastructure will be revamped to boost economic gains from the sector.
“The Tema Shipyard and Dry Dock Company, when revived, could provide technical support to the national shipping line—which is in the pipeline—and international vessels by way of maintenance and repair services.
“The facility could also produce custom vessels to ply the Volta Lake, providing a cost effective means of cargo haulage across the country aside ensuring a dependable and navigable water transport system all year-round,” he noted.
To buttress his argument, Ing. Mensah indicated that government must ensure the inclusion and participation of qualified and experienced maritime professionals in policy formulation, technical coordination to enhance knowledge-based hands-on operation.
B&FT