In a bid to enable Africa compete favourably with other maritime continents in the world, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is set to provide support to the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) through a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside who made this known during a working visit by the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) to the Agency led by its Director General, Mr. Kwame Owusu, stated that in carrying out its statutory functions, the NIMASA is strengthened by three important Acts of Parliament namely: the Merchant Shipping Act, the NIMASA Act and the Cabotage Act.
Dr. Peterside also informed the GMA team that in order for NIMASA to actualize its core mandates which cuts across shipping development, maritime safety and security, maritime labour services, amongst others, the agency is currently repositioning and rebranding for greater efficiency, geared towards realizing a virile maritime sector in line with global best practices.
“We have taken a number of initiatives to reform, restructure and reposition the organization; a lot has changed over time and you will get to learn from our own experience the life we lived and still living. Nobody realizes his vision overnight, our vision is work in progress with a focus on becoming the foremost maritime administration in Africa, advancing Nigeria’s maritime goal”, he stated.
In his response, the Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Mr. Kwame Owusu commended the doggedness of the Dr. Peterside led Management of NIMASA in repositioning the Nigerian maritime sector and by extension the entire African continent.
Mr. Kwame said “we are here to strengthen the bilateral relationships that exist between both countries and to learn international best practices from you”.
The delegation from Ghana came to learn and share part of the experience of NIMASA so that they can replicate same in their country.
The areas being considered for the MoU are; regular knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer, capacity building initiatives and Cabotage implementation/enforcement processes.
