The Ghana Shippers Authority in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association has held a day’s seminar for journalists in Accra.
The seminar is the sixth in a series of maritime seminars organised by GSA towards empowering media practitioners to improve their knowledge in current happenings within the trade and shipping sector.
In her welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of the GSA, Benonita Bismarck said the commitment of the GSA is to provide a platform for shippers and journalists alike to understand and appreciate the shipping industry.
She called for continuous collaboration between the GSA and the GJA in organising such seminars to whip up the interest of more journalists in the shipping sector.
“The Authority considers the dissemination of relevant information on shipping related issues and other stakeholders as very significant in fulfilling its mandate. It has therefore become imperative that media practitioners who are the conveyors of such critical information to the public are regularly empowered through seminars of this nature,” she stated.
The General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Affairs of GPHA, Esther Gyebi-Donkor charged all stakeholders in the port industry to contribute positively towards improving port business in Ghana.
“All the issues that lead to delay in the handling and processing of cargo through the port contribute in a way in the efficiency of the port. It’s a matter of all stakeholders that have something to do with clearing goods in the port so far as documentation processing is concerned,” she said.
The Deputy Minister for Transport and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema East, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover stressed on the importance of the maritime sector to Ghana’s development hence, the need for capacity building for journalists to equip them in their reportage on the maritime industry.
“This seminar is coming at an opportune time where journalists need to abreast themselves. Because we don’t want you to be giving some reportage that when you sit back to ask questions whether there was research”, he expressed.
He also touted some benefits that would be derived from the ongoing Tema Port expansion project when completed.
“The port expansion is a very big national asset that we cannot joke with. By June next year the first two terminals would be operating,” he said.