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RMU, DMI gears up for 3rd Blue Economy Conference
Dr Brooks (right) interacting with Rector, DMI, Dr Tumaini S. Gurumo
(middle) and a colleague during their recent visit to Ghana
The third edition of the Blue Economy Conference (BEC2024) is set for July 4-5 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Tanzania.
The conference organized by the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI), Tanzania in collaboration with the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Accra, would be under the theme, “Navigating the Future: Integrating Maritime Safety and Security, Climate Change Actions and Technological Advancements for Blue Economy.”
The conference is aimed at bringing together international stakeholders, focusing on promoting the blue economy to lead development across the continent.
The blue economy every year, has an estimated turnover of between US$3 and six billion. This includes employment, ecosystem services provided by the ocean and cultural services. It is also estimated that fisheries and aquaculture contributes US$100 billion per year and about 260 million jobs to the global economy, according to United Nations (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) report.
With the huge potential of the blue economy, Africa through the conference, is looking forward to developing the maritime sector to tap into its benefits for socio-economic growth.
The conference is also aimed at establishing a platform for capacity building and networking among stakeholders, fostering the blue economy in alignment with maritime safety and security, climate change considerations and technological advancements as outlined in the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The conference would tackle other areas including sustainable exploitation and utilisation of blue economy resources, ship seaworthiness and on board-ship competency challenges, business models for the blue economy, women in maritime sector, fishing industry and climate action policy and environmental protection.
There would also be discussions on Artificial Intelligence(AI) in maritime practices and the blue economy, renewable energy solutions for maritime transportation, information systems in maritime education and training, logistics, shipping and supply chains for the blue economy, climate-responsive maritime practices and coastal management, blue economy governance, law and policy as well as coastal and marine tourism development.
Keynote Speaker for the event would be the Deputy Minister for Transport, Tanzania Mr David Mwakiposa Kihenzile, with other speakers including Secretary General, Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr Paul Ikongshul Adalikwu, Maritime Law and Management Consultant, Dr Kofi Mbia, Special Advisor for Maritime and Blue Economy, Amb. Nancy Karigithu, Executive Director,Sierra Leone Maritime Authority Paul Sobba Massaquoi and Climate Specialist, Mr Pa Ousman Jarju.
The DMI had held the Blue Economy Conference for the past two years and now joining forces with the RMU to hold the third edition this year, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two giants in maritime education and training in February.
The MoU covers areas of research and publication, staff capacity building, organisation of conferences and seminars and workshops among others, hence the collaboration to hold this year’s conference.
Speaking ahead of the conference, the Ag. Vice Chancellor of the RMU, Dr Jethro W. Brooks Jr said, both institutions have committed to transforming economies across Africa by providing quality training and education that would ensure that young people were equipped and positioned to drive the maritime sector.
“We look forward for an insightful conference that would support the transformation of the African continent through the maritime industry,” he stated.
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Traders, ‘Okada’ riders take over Circle pavement
• Korle-Bu CEO with staff of Nivaansh MediQas
Activities of traders and drug addicts are contributing to make the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Circle) area very uncomfortable and unsafe for commuters.
Day in and out, pedestrians are ‘ejected’ from the pavement created for their safety as traders preferred to sell their wares on that space.
That hinders the free movement of the pedestrians.
The small space left for the pedestrians are also shared with ‘Okada’ riders.
As if these woes are not enough for a commuter on a single day, they also have to navigate carefully to avoid clashes with drug addicts and the mentally challenged.
These people have turned the pavements into their places of abode, covering every inch of space with their wares.
Our photographer, Lizzy Okai, captures some of the unfriendly scenes the authorities must try and deal with to restore sanity to the area.
By Lizzy Okai
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NDC outlines demands before committing to Peace Pact
The National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has set forth specific conditions that the party insists must be met before considering signing the Peace Pact advocated by the National Peace Council in anticipation of the December 7 elections.
Mr. Nketia expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of past Peace Pacts, highlighting that they had not achieved their intended outcomes, particularly referencing the 2020 elections, during which eight NDC members were allegedly killed by national security operatives without accountability.
During an August 20 meeting with the National Peace Council at the NDC headquarters, Mr. Nketia detailed the certain conditions for the NDC’s participation in the Peace Pact.
The NDC is demanding that the recommendations from the investigation into the violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election be fully implemented.
They also want those responsible for election-related violence in the last election to be prosecuted, stressing the importance of justice and prevention.
The party is calling for accountability regarding irregularities in the printing of ballot papers and insists that visible measures be taken to prevent such issues from happening again.
They are also pushing for a thorough investigation into the missing IT equipment from the Electoral Commission’s (EC) warehouse, expressing concerns about the integrity of the EC’s systems and the potential bias of its staff.
Furthermore, the NDC is urging the President to publicly commit to respecting the results of the 2024 elections. Lastly, the party insists that the Peace Pact should be signed by key figures, including the Inspector General of Police, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, and the National Security Coordinator, before they will consider signing it themselves.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
