The Regional Maritime University (RMU) has launched a scholarships fund aimed at supporting brilliant but less privileged students of the university.
The fund, with a targeted seed money of GH¢250,000 is expected to be sustained to cater for less privileged students to attain maritime education and assist in transforming Ghana’s economy through the maritime industry.
Guest Speaker for the launch and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West, Mr Carlos Ahenkorah, called on maritime organisations in Ghana to support by making allocations in their annual budgets towards the fund.
“Institutions like the Ghana Shippers Authority, Ghana Maritime Authority and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority must allocated at least GH¢100, 000 each year in their budget towards the growth of these institutions,” he stated.
That, he said, would go a long way to support needy students become professionals that would contribute their quota to national development.
He added that, the maritime industry was vital for the growth of Ghana’s economy and offering scholarships to needy students to train and acquire knowledge would be a step in the right direction.
“It would ensure that more people are educated despite their financial challenges to serve the needs within the industry and contribute their quota to the development of the nation,” he stressed.
Maritime education, he said, was capital intensive and hence the need for the universities like RMU to be supported to have the needed resources to produce professionals for the industry.
“There is shortage of skilled personnel within the industry and the scholarships would go a long way to educate people that would fill those spaces and ultimately result in poverty reduction,” he added.
Ghanaian youth he said, must consider careers in seafarership and avoid engaging in illegalities or activities that would affect the environment like galamsey.
He said, the scholarship scheme would help attract and retain the best students in the university and urged management to grow the fund with support from corporate entities.
Launching the scholarship fund, the MP for Krowor, Mrs Agnes Naa Momo Lartey called on corporate entities and individuals to partner the RMU to support a worthy course.
She said, the fund had come at the right time to alleviate the plight of many brilliant but needy students.
She also inaugurated the scholarship fund committee and urged them to be innovative and attract support from corporate entities and individuals.
“The fund must be sustained to benefit a lot of students for generations. This would require that managers of the fund are innovative, transparent and accountable,” she stressed.
The MP donated GH¢10, 000 to the fund while Meridian Logistics and Engineering also presented GH¢50,000 with other dignitaries also pledging their support.
The Vice Chancellor for RMU, Dr Jethro W. Brooks Jnr, congratulated the staff and students for the efforts which would help needy students achieve greater heights.
BY MICHAEL D.ABAYATEYE
