Collaborate with us to develop our marine industry – Minister of Transport calls on IMO

Company News of Thursday, April 4, 2019

Source: kasapafmonline.com

2019-04-04

The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, has launched a fascinating appeal to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other major players in the blue economy to collaborate effectively with Ghana to the development of its maritime industry.

Among the areas in which Asiamah wants to collaborate are security, port expansion and reforms to transform Ghana's maritime sector.

"The navy belongs to us all, but the trade of our waters does not belong to us all. I will therefore call upon IMO and the big players to collaborate with us as well. We do not say that they should give us any help or gifts, but they should try to collaborate with us in matters of safety and in other areas. Apart from that, we need many reforms to at least catch up with the big players. Therefore, if they introduce reforms, we do not want them to stop, but we can not go back forever. A journey of a thousand kilometers begins with a step, "he noted.

He added: "… without your cooperation, it will be very difficult to protect and develop the maritime sector".

The Minister of Transport made this remark when IMO General Secretary Kitack Lim visited him Tuesday in his courtesy office, to present some strategic plans that the Organization intends to undertake to support the Shipping industry in Africa, in particular, Ghana.

Mr. Lim, whose visit to Ghana was the first since his rise to the highest IMO position, told the Minister of Transport that many activities in the maritime sector in Africa were little known to the rest of the world. travel to some countries of the continent to learn about the problems they face and see how the Organization can best help them.

"Singapore has experienced a lot of development over the last 20 years. Similarly, I see the big potential here [Ghana]. I discuss with my people how we will promote relevant economic activities at the international level. So we need a strategy. That's why I asked the technical division to set up a special strategy for Africa. However, leadership is a very important key in this development dynamic, "he noted.

Mr. Asiamah commented further, congratulating Mr. Lim for his keen interest and developing a strategic plan to support the development of the maritime industry in Africa, but warned that such plans must have the political support of the various African leaders.

"… The European continent is different from Africa. The problems of Asia are not the same as those of Africa. If you want to adopt a common strategy to solve the problems of Africa, you make a mistake. In Africa, everything is about political decisions. You can not make these decisions without involving politicians. You need political support before you can make a major decision for the African continent. Without political support, it will be difficult. In Europe, you do not even need the government to intervene because the systems are in place – the institutions are established. But here we are weak in terms of institutional arrangements, so everything is government based. Together, we can formulate policies and plans to ensure that our maritime industry in Africa is also strong, "he said.