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TPABC delegation ends three-day working visit to RMU
A three-day working visit by a delegation from the Bandari College of Tanzania Port Authority (TPABC) to the Regional Maritime University (RMU) ended in Accra on Wednesday.
The three-member delegation was led by the Director, Tanzania Port Authority (TPA) and Principal,TPABC, Dr Lufunyo Hussein with the Ag. Deputy Director for Academic, Research and Consultancy, Mr Franco Mwakatage and Principal Instructor, TPABC, Dr Olivary John as other members of the delegation.
The visit forms part of TPABC’s reforms activities spearheaded by forming strategic partnerships to ensure that they become more competitive and efficient to meet growing demands of the maritime industry.
Management of the RMU led by the Ag. Vice Chancellor, Dr Jethro W. Brooks Jr. welcomed the delegation and began discussions leading to the formation of a strong partnership that would foster growth within the institutions.
In his presentation, Dr Hussein explained that the TPA and for that matter, the college since 2020 initiated reform activities and recognised the RMU as a relevant partner to assist in their transformative agenda.
Ultimately, he said they would be working together in areas of capacity building, instructors exchange, shared experience and research among others to improve upon their visibility and progress.
In his welcome address, Dr Brooks Jr. said they were pleased to receive the delegation from Tanzania adding that it had always been a desire to foster collaborations between institutions within the continent.
He added that it was important for institutions in Africa to collaborate and work towards addressing challenges and institutional demands of the continent.
He said working together in research and knowledge sharing was essential to the growth of the maritime industry which has become vital as far as development in most parts of the world is concerned.
Dr Brooks Jr also announced that a committee would be constituted comprising members of both institutions to among other things, initiate steps towards signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June to formalise the partnership.
There was also a presentation by the RMU Provost, Dr Denis Atehnijia Njumo on the structure, mission and vision, courses and programmes, projects and other relevant units of the RMU.
The team also toured RMU’S facilities after which Ag. Deputy Director for Academic, Research and Consultancy, Mr Franco Mwakatage praised the RMU for their state-of-the-art infrastructure and very competent technicians for their workshops.
He said some of the stimulators were very new to them and certainly with the available infrastructure, the RMU was positioned to produce quality graduates for the maritime industry.
By Michael D. Abayateye
News
President Mahama arrives in Brussels as advocate for GAVI Vaccine replenishment
President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Brussels, Belgium, as a prominent advocate and ambassador for the GAVI Alliance’s crucial vaccine replenishment efforts.
President Mahama wlill participate in the Global Summit on Health and Prosperity through Immunisation, co-hosted by the European Union, the Gates Foundation, and the Vaccine
Alliance
The Summit aims to secure vital support for Gavi’s ambitious 2026-2030 strategy.
This strategy seeks to immunise an additional 500 million children, save over 8 million lives, and protect against up to 150 disease outbreaks, delivering over $100 billion in economic
benefits.
President Mahama’s presence highlights the vital role of global cooperation in providing
fair access to vaccines, especially in lower-income countries.
Having experienced the transformative impact of immunisation in Ghana and across Africa first-hand, President
Mahama has been dedicated to advocating for a fully funded Gavi.
In 2013, he played a similar role to support the Alliance in its mission to save children’s lives and protect health by increasing immunisation
President Mahama believes that a fully funded Gavi will save millions of lives, unlock significant economic potential, and strengthen global health security
The Global Summit provides a critical opportunity to garner renewed commitment from traditional and newer donors, highlighting the proven effectiveness and value of Gavi’s
partnerships with governments, international organisations, civil society, communities, and
industry leaders.
Since 2000, Gavi has reached over a billion children with life-saving vaccines, preventing more than 18.8 million deaths and generating over $250 billion in economic benefits for
lower-income economies.
While in Brussels, President Mahama will also hold discussions with many leaders, including the President of the EU Council of Ministers and Bill Gates.
News
The Committee on Defence and Interior Engages Ghana National Fire Service Over Operational Crisis
The Committee on Defence and Interior held a crucial engagement with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to discuss urgent challenges threatening the operations of the service.
The Director of Finance at GNFS, D.C.F.O Mark Brako Appiah disclosed that many of their fire tenders are over 22 years old and no longer supported with spare parts locally, raising fears of a possible shutdown by the end of the year if the situation is not addressed.
He also pointed to the public’s disregard for fire safety protocols, such as sleeping near gas cylinders and the lack of escape routes in most buildings, which he said contributes significantly to fire-related deaths.
In addition to the ageing equipment, the service is grappling with a shortage of command and utility vehicles, lack of fire stations in key areas, and limited access to functional hydrants.
These limitations, he explained, not only affect emergency response times but also discourage investors from entering underserved regions.
Personnel health was also highlighted as a concern, with many suffering from prolonged exposure to smoke during rescue operations.
Chief Fire Officer Madam Daniella Mawusi Ntow-Sarpong acknowledged a decline in public trust and assured the Committee that efforts are underway to improve internal discipline, training, and professionalism among staff.
She also addressed concerns about fire tenders arriving at scenes without water, attributing the issue to the lack of hydrants in some communities.
The Committee, led by the chairman, James Agalga, pledged to present its findings and recommendations to Parliament to help strengthen the Service and ensure it remains fit for its mandate of safeguarding life and property.
