The Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) commenced this year’s Maritime Sector Governance Course on Monday 13 February 2023.
The 5-day course which will end on Friday 17 February 2023, is aimed at providing effective maritime sector governance for professional maritime practitioners, affiliated stakeholders, and important decision-makers in the maritime industry.
Delivering the opening address, the Executive Chairman of the MCDAN Group of Companies, Dr. Daniel Nii Nsiah Mckorley, who was the Guest of Honour for the opening ceremony, mentioned that for decades, more recognition had been given to land-based economic activities with little attention given to economic activities in the maritime space.
However, stressing the recent realization of the vast potential that the sea and its related bodies contribute to economic development, he indicated that most littoral states now have a growing need to ensure accountability and oversight over their maritime domain, especially the Exclusive Economic Zone, concerning safety and security-related activities.
He further stated that efforts in addressing these needs in developing countries such as ours are often hampered by inappropriate institutional designs and organizational cultures, poor institutional coordination as well as the lack of resources among others. He added that overcoming these challenges requires clear strategic direction that should be articulated within an appropriate policy framework, hence the relevance and appropriateness of the Maritime Sector Governance Course module.
Dr. Mckorley also stated that the Course had been designed to ensure a more professional and holistic understanding of management and operations by all stakeholders to hopefully engender the political and institutional needs which would consider favorably, decisions that are affecting the effective and efficient protection of the enormous resource in the zone. He stressed that as a key stakeholder in the maritime industry, McDan Group of Companies would continue to collaborate and provide the needed support for the successful running of courses in that regard.
Participants of the Course include 86 regular students of GAFCSC and 13 external participants from other security services and stakeholder institutions. Resource persons are Ghanaian experts drawn from the Military, the Maritime Industry, and Academia.
– Story by Maj Amartefio (DDCA GAFCSC)
