The opening ceremony of the 35th Board of Governors Meeting of the Regional Maritime University(RMU) was held on Friday June 26, 2026 in Accra. Major highlight of the event was the smooth transfer of Chancellorship which saw the Minister for Transport, Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, officially assuming the role of Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the RMU.
The ceremony, marked the official transfer of the Chancellorship from the Republic of Sierra Leone to Ghana after Sierra Leone successfully completed its two-year tenure. In his acceptance speech, Mr Nikpe expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chancellor, Amb. Alhaji Fanday Turay, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, for his exemplary leadership and dedication to preserving RMU’s status as a premier maritime education and training institution on the continent.
He commended Sierra Leone for leaving behind a solid foundation on which Ghana would build, reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to sustaining and strengthening the University’s legacy. He pledged to work closely with all member states to promote the University’s growth and long-term sustainability.
As the host country, he assured member states of Ghana’s commitment to supporting the University’s growth, enhancing its financial sustainability and deepening collaboration with all stakeholders.
Outgoing Chancellor, Alhaji Fanday Turay, exchanges pleasantries with the incoming Chancellor, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, symbolizing a seamless transition of leadership and continued commitment to the advancement of maritime education in the sub-region.
The outgoing Chancellor, Amb. Alhaji Fanday Turay, expressed confidence in Ghana’s leadership, describing the country as a capable custodian of the University’s future. He highlighted several achievements recorded during Sierra Leone’s tenure, including a nearly 30 per cent increase in student enrolment, renewed confidence in RMU as a leading maritime institution, strengthened financial stability, and the securing of research grants.
There were speeches from representatives of the various Member States including Prof. Messiina Mane Gerard from Cameroon, Mr Abraham Mendy from The Gambia, Minister of Transport, Telecommunications and Digital Economy of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Hon. Florentina Mendes Pereira, Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Liberia Maritime Authority, Liberia, Hon. Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr. and Secretary-General of Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa(MOWCA) Dr Paul Adalikwu.