A total of twenty-five (25) candidates participated in the annual Maritime Safety Security Course held at the Regional Maritime University (RMU) from 15th May, to 10th July, 2019. Participants were drawn from the following countries; Cameroon, Cote D’lvoire, Liberia, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe. The two months’ course constituted a good opportunity to foster the networking among monitoring and evaluation practitioners and the sharing of knowledge on the ever increasing maritime insecurity.
The main objectives behind the training is to equip delegates with necessary knowledge to take swift and decisive inputs in cases of Maritime Insecurity such as human and drug trafficking, smuggling, illegal fishing, piracy and armed robbery at sea.
Welcome Address by Professor Elvis Nyarko, Vice Chancellor, Regional Maritime University.
In a welcome address by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Elvis Nyarko, which was read on his behalf by the Master Mariner (Captain) Joshua Nii Addo, he urged participants to be guided by the fact that cooperation and partnership were key to addressing Maritime Insecurity. The various aspects of the training he said, were designed to equip graduates of the EU GOGIN Project with the necessary knowledge and skill to act as responsible managers upon resumption of duty at their various places of work and to be diligent in dealing with any kind of maritime event, i.e. from ensuring the safe passage of vessels in the Gulf of Guinea and to act, swiftly and effectively, in dealing with cases of maritime insecurity such as human and drug trafficking, smuggling, illegal fishing, piracy and armed robbery at sea.
Welcome Address by CMDR Derrick Attachie of ICC.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr. Derrick congratulated delegated for the successful completion of the two months’ course. He accounted that, the graduation of the participants added up to about three hundred (300) delegates who have endured and completed the course. The call by the Yaounde Head of State Summit, an International Community, with other African States, to act and achieve concrete results on maritime security issues, he said, have received a lot recognition in recent past times. He was confident that, delegates have acquired the necessary knowledge through the exposure gained during their training and is apt to address some key challenges to the sustainability of maritime security i.e. Oceans provides a vast space for human activity, yet they also provide a vast space to hide and conspire. Moving forward, the training in Maritime Safety and Security Course of the RMU, will help address such challenges.
There were several facilitation techniques used by the trainers which included question and answer, brainstorming, field trips, group discussions, case study discussions and practical implementation of some of the topics by trainees on flip charts and paper sheets. The multitude of training methodologies was utilized in order to make sure all the participants get the whole concepts and they practice what they learn.
All twenty-five (25) delegates were presented with certificates for the training received. Some captions are displayed below.
Mr. Nuno Monica (left), presenting a certificate to a delegates of the training.
Chief Mariner, Captain Joshua Nii Addo (left), presenting a certificate to a trainee.
A section of participants during the closing ceremony.
Information Source: Marketing Unit
Information Date: 23rd July, 2019