Eng. Teddy Mensah addressing press
THE MARITIME Professionals Club (MPC), a group made up of players in the maritime sector, has called on government to reinstate the defunct national shipping line, the Black Star Line to generate revenue for the state.
According to the club, Ghana has the professionals to handle the shipping line when any government shows commitment to restore it.
They were of the view that Ghana currently generates about 30 percent of its total revenue from the maritime sector and losing millions as a result of under-utilization of the sector.
The group explained that shipping, at present, is more vibrant than ever and continues to play a pivotal role in the global trade and transport through technical innovations geared at improving maritime transport efficiency and safe navigation, consequently, the need for the government to invest in the sector to boost the economy.
Addressing a media conference in Tema on Wednesday, Engineer Teddy Mensah, First Vice Chairman of the MPC who outlined strategies to revamp the shipping line, urged Ghana to learn from countries like Singapore whose economy thrives on well-resourced and vibrant shipping hub which provides various services and technical support to all types of marine transport as well as the oil and gas industry.
He called on government to strategize and enact policies aimed at redirecting and enhancing the total development of all resources in the marine industry.
Revamping the Shipping Line, Eng. Mensah stated, shall bring onboard the Tema Shipyard to improve the maritime sector stating that “Being the first and largest shipyard and dry dock in sub-Saharan Africa when it was established, it is nothing but a shame to see the sorry state of affairs at the dry dock today.”
“Plans shall be put in place to ensure parallel growth of the dry dock alongside other port infrastructure to reposition the Tema dry dock as the preferred ship repair yard in Africa and to provide the necessary technical support to the national shipping line by way of repair and maintenance services.”
The redevelopment of the shipyard and the restoration of the national shipping line, according to the Vice Chairman of MPC will create employment for graduates from the Regional Maritime University.
From Vincent Kubi, Tema