Kwaku Ofori Asiamah (facing left) administering the oath of office to members of the chamber
Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport, has indicated that government is considering the adoption of an open registry system in Ghana to enable foreign ships register under the Ghana flag.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Ghana Chamber of Shipping Wednesday in Accra, the Minister said the formation of a specialised think-tank for the maritime industry was long overdue.
He said in recent times, the country’s ports environment had become a safe place for many vessels.
“The safe haven provided to ships by our ports should not be taken for granted. Recently, two tankers have been hijacked by pirates along the coasts of Togo and Benin. We must continue to be vigilant and ensure that the measures we have put in place to curb this menace are constantly updated to keep pace with this threat.
“In this respect, the Ghana Maritime Authority and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority are stepping up their efforts to ensure maximum security along our coastline. As a government, our quest to provide jobs for our teeming youth remains on course. We are adding onto the existing infrastructure in the ports of Tema and Takoradi. My ministry has also placed premium on the development of the Boankra Inland Port and to this end, evaluation has been completed in response to advertisements placed in various media to attract strategic investors for the development of the dry port.”
Additionally, he said the Ministry of Railways has stepped up efforts to revamp the railways to ramp up competition in the maritime industry.
Dr Kofi Mbiah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Shipping, in an address, said the fear of cyber attacks on autonomous ships, risks of diversion of vessels and cargoes to places far from their planned destination ports pose imminent threats to Ghana’s maritime industry.
“The era of autonomous ships is fast dawning on us and sending shivers down our spine. What does the future hold for maritime labour in the era of autonomous ships? Should we continue to train seafarers who would no longer be needed?
“The menace of maritime fraud in complicated maritime cyber crimes looms large. Are we facing a threat of maritime ‘sakawa’? We could be faced with untold disasters in the worst places at the worst moments. The recent efforts of powering ships with renewable energy hold prospects for emerging economies. How do we position ourselves to take advantage of these emerging technologies?”
He also expressed worry about maritime ecosystems, which were severely stressed as a result of over 8 million tons of plastic waste that are dumped into the sea each year which has created dead zones within the sea and altered food webs for fish.
The new chamber has Alhaji Asuma Banda as its life patron, Ben Owusu Mensah as chairman, Capt Aaron Turkson as vice president and Dr Kofi Mbiah as CEO.
The members include Hammed Rashid Tunde Ali, Nii Armah Ashietey, Jemilat Jawula Mahama, Nii Komieteh Botchway and Alex G. Buabeng.
By Samuel Boadi