Nungua, July 4, GNA - The Board of Governors of the Regional Maritime Academy (RMA) held its 31st Board meeting at Nungua on Thursday, under the current Chairmanship of Dr Prince Alex Harding, Sierra Leonian Minister of Transport and Communications. Representatives from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, The Gambia, and Liberia attended the meeting.

Captain Aaron Turkson, Principal of the RMA, said the Academy trained over 19,000 personnel and that due to improvement in maritime transport technology, the training requirements of maritime transport manpower had gradually shifted from vocational based to science and technology. ''Thus, the Academy intends to discontinue the HND courses and introduce degree programmes to commence in September this year to equip graduates with adequate science and technology skills to cope with the rapid advancement in the industry.''

The new degree programmes include BSC Maritime Studies (Port and Shipping Administration), BSC Maritime Studies (Ship Operations), BSC Maritime Technology (Maritime Engineering) and BSC Electrical/ Electronic Engineering. Captain Turkson said the Academy had been certified as City and Guilds Examinations Centre and certified to run microcomputer technology programme. Consequently, in addition to degree programmes, the Academy shall commence the City and Guilds Computer hardware Programme.

Captain Aaron Turkson appealed to organisations in the Maritime industry to support the Academy and expressed his regrets that though the institution had appealed for support that had not been encouraging enough.

Dr Harding paid 60,000 dollars as part of the contribution of the Sierra Leone government and said the remaining amount would be paid soon. He said the Academy was developing maritime transport and the fishing industry in member states through the provision of trained maritime personnel.

Dr Gasika Agambila, Deputy Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways, said the Academy has now been given legal title to its land and progress had been made towards the implementation of various capital projects of RMA. He thanked member states for the support they gave to Ghana to win the IMO council seat and said the country would seek re-election in November this year and called for their support.