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RMU, NAHEOG hold second graduation ceremony for students
The second batch of trained mobile crane and forklift operators have graduated on Wednesday in Accra.
The training conducted under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Regional Maritime University (RMU) and the National Association for Heavy-duty Operators of Ghana (NAHEOG) saw graduates being presented with certificates.
The programme covered the safe operation of forklifts and mobile cranes , with emphasis on safety protocols and industry best practices as well as equipped individuals with the necessary skills to remain relevant in the job market.
Speaking to the media after the ceremony on the theme “Equipping the youth with employable skills: The role of corporate organisations”, the President of NAHEOG, Dominic Kofi Eyiah, emphasized the importance of the youth acquiring skills that would prepare them for the job market.
He said the youth were the future and that it was imperative they were prepared with the right skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the workforce.
“If the youth are not well-prepared for the job market, they can find themselves ill-prepared to meet the challenges of today’s job market and beyond” he stated.
Mr Eyiah charged corporate organizations to support the training of the youth, particularly in the area of skills development saying “corporate organizations can partner with educational institutions to create curricula that are aligned with the current job market demands.”
He explained that by tailoring educational initiatives to real-world needs, corporate organizations could help to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
He pledged his outfit’s support to continue to provide employable skills to the youth, pointing out that “the youth are the driving force behind our future prosperity, and it is our collective responsibility to prepare them adequately for the challenges that lie ahead.”
The Provost of the university, Dr Denis Njumo Atehnjia, who spoke on behalf of the university’s Vice Chancellor, said RMU “has been steadfast in its mission to equip the youth with the skills and knowledge required for meaningful employment.”
He said the changing dynamics of the job market required individuals to acquire skills and that “those who have recognised this are developing themselves skills-wise and are excelling.”
Dr. Atehnjia commended the graduates for their decision to acquire technical skills, saying “The path you have taken to become proficient forklift and mobile crane operators is indeed not just merely about operating heavy machinery but also about the pursuit of excellence and the dedication to mastering a trade and the courage to embrace challenges.”
The Operations Manager of the Meridian Port Services, Mr Emmanuel Ohene Addo, who served as the Guest of honour, urged corporate bodies to assist academic institutions in the training of new graduates.
For him, the input of corporate bodies in the academic training would help to train the right calibre of professionals and graduate for the various industries in the country and beyond.
He expressed the concern that even though many corporate organisations complain that graduates do not match up their demands, some corporate organisations refuse to accept trainees for internship opportunities.
“We would not be able to equip the youth with employable skills if we leave it solely to the institutions,” Mr Ohene Addo explained.
By Benedicta Gyimaah Folley
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
