Ghana commits to positioning Regional Maritime University as a training institution of choice

Ghana is committed to positioning the Regional Maritime University (RMU) as a maritime training institution of choice in the Sub-region.

Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the Minister of Transport, said Ghana would continue to collaborate with Member States to ensure the progress of the University.

Mr Bukari Nikpe was speaking at the opening of the 33rd Board of Governors Meeting of the RMU in Accra.

He said there was a certain agenda of the government utilising every available opportunity to refocus Ghana’s socio-economic development trajectory.

The Minister said the maritime sector was playing a key role and the government would ensure that the RMU was well positioned to improve the skills and competitiveness of the human capital for the industry. 

He said the auditorium complex and the lecture hall projects that seemed to have been abandoned would be completed and used for teaching and learning.

Mr Bukari Nikpe said the GETFund had committed an amount of GH1million to complete the lecture hall project, whilst the Ministry had made provisions to also provide GH1 million towards the auditorium complex.

” I also wish to update that the commissioned review of the feasibility studies of the University by the Korean EXIM Bank has been completed and increasing the project costs from $146,000,000 to $173,000,000 complete this project,” he added. 

He said the Ministry had taken all necessary steps to sign the loan facility for the modernisation of the RMU by the provision of training ship, simulators and construction of lecture theatres, civil works and capacity building for effective teaching and learning.

He said the RMU remained a cornerstone institution providing essential maritime education and training within the region. 

He said the University had empowered young professionals to take uncritical roles in the maritime sector across the member states and beyond.

“Our collective engagement and the dynamic change within the industry has the power to shape the future of maritime education and shipping to benefit the RMU and the entire region,” he added. 

Mr Bukari Nipke affirmed the government’s commitment to the Regional Maritime University and continued efforts to sustain the development goals of the RMU.

Alhaji Fanday Turay, the Chancellor of RMU, said the meeting gave him the opportunity to take stock of happenings in the University and give directions to the smooth operations of the University.

He said one of the challenges he inherited from his predecessor was the unresolved situation surrounding the

former Vice-Chancellor who was suspended. 

He said despite the numerous challenges that hovered around the issue since 2021 and the standoff between him and the Ministry of Transport, who had requested to negotiate an exit for him on humanitarian grounds without success, the Board took a decisive decision during the 32nd Board Meeting in Morovia in November 2024 to let him run out his contract which ended in February 2028.

“I am pleased to report that the former Vice-Chancellor run out his contract and exited on the 28th of February 2025,” he said.

The Chancellor said all his benefits as negotiated by the Ministry of Transport and endorsed by the Board had been paid him at the time of exit.

Source: GNA

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