By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
Accra, April 2, GNA – Vice President Dr
Mahamudu Bawumia, Tuesday, called on African countries to institute legislative
framework to address the incidents of maritime safety, security, plastic
pollution and ocean governance in order to build resilient economies.
He expressed dismay that about eight million
tonnes of plastics were dumped into the ocean annually, and cautioned that if
urgent measures are not taken right now to address the phenomenon; by 2050
there would be more plastics in the ocean than aquatic life.
“Our national and continental strategies
should take into consideration the environmental dimension of the blue economy
so that we can together preserve our ecosystem,” Dr Bawumia emphasised.
The Vice President made the call in a speech
read on his behalf by Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, the Transport Minister, at the
opening of the Sixth Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association
(WISTA) Africa Conference in Accra.
He said government was instituting measures to
ensure plastic waste management became integral part of the maritime
environment and urged African nations to develop the necessary legislations to
address maritime pollution.
The two-day conference is on the theme: “The
Role of Women in Harnessing the Potential of Africa’s Blue Economy” attracted
delegates and shipping councils from Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Democratic
Republic of Congo, South Africa, Central Africa Republic and Togo.
The event, which was graced by Mr Kitack Lim,
the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation, brought
together women in the maritime transport, trading, logistics and management
positions.
They would share knowledge, ideas and network
towards developing an action plan that would aid in sustainable utilisation of
the marine resources and ensure job creation.
The Vice President mentioned some reforms
being implemented by the Government to enhance ports’ efficiency and ease of
doing business, including the Single Window System, construction of four
container berths and expansion of terminals at the Tema and Takoradi ports, to
reduce revenue leakages and ensure faster turnaround time for goods and
services.
He said maritime resources were pivotal
towards Africa’s industrialisation agenda and diversification of her economies
considering the 38 coastal countries on the Continent and, thus, called for
sustainable utilisation to ensure collective development.
It is estimated that about 90 per cent of the
import and export volumes in Africa are through maritime transport.
Vice President Bawumia reminded the gathering
that the 2015 Maritime Strategy adopted by stakeholders examined maritime
safety, infrastructural development and fisheries and aquaculture, while
recognizing the need for countries to comply with the laws of the sea.
He was of the conviction that those measures
were crucial towards accelerating socio-economic development and underlined the
need to harness the maritime industry sub-sectors such as shipping, logistics,
insurance, tourism, fishing and aquaculture to bolster the economies of Africa
and to create jobs.
Dr Bawumia acknowledged the role and
contributions of women in the sector over the years.
However, he bemoaned the low number of the
female workforce, constituting only two per cent globally, and called for
drastic measures to change the statistics by advancing women’s participation in
the sector.
He said government was empowering women to
play a critical role in the maritime sector and cited the appointment of Madam
Sandra Opoku, the Director of Tema Port and Madam Benonita Bismarck, the
Executive Director of the Ghana Shippers Authority, to decision-making
positions as a case in point.
Mrs Jemilat Jawulaa Mahama, the President of
WISTA-Ghana, in her welcome address, said the conference was a defining moment
in Africa’s quest to industrialise and diversifying her economies through
sustainable exploitation of natural resources.
She noted that the first global conference to
discuss the “Blue Economy” (Ocean Resources) was held in September last year in
Nairobi, Kenya, for sustainable use of the sea resources.
He explained that the ocean provided an avenue
for ensuring food security of millions of people and survival of humanity with
estimated an value of 1.5 trillion dollars, therefore it was prudent for global
leaders, governments and individuals to recognize the essence of preserving the
marine environment and maximise its potentials.
Some of the topics outlined for discussions
include African Ports and Maritime Pollution Matters, Role of Trade
Facilitation in Promoting Africa’s Intra Africa Trade, Securing the Blue
Economy through and Effective Regulatory Enforcement Framework, Sustainable
Fisheries and Aquaculture and Transport Logistics in Africa: Challenges and the
Way Forward.
GNA
