By Doreen Ampofo
The Regional Maritime University has reiterated an appeal to member states and corporate institutions to support the university with state-of-the-art equipment for student training.
The acquisition of this equipment will reduce the cost of training for students, who sometimes have to absorb these fees.
The University is the only regionally owned university by West and Central African countries, including Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
The Registrar of the University, Dr Baboucarr Njie, who made the appeal in Accra when 45 students graduated from an 8-week training in forklift and mobile crane operations, said the RMU is committed to training quality professionals despite any challenges.
The training is a result of an MOU signed last year between the University and the National Association for Heavy-Duty Equipment Operators Ghana (NAHOEG) to enhance the skills of students by equipping them with the needed skills and knowledge.
According to the Registrar, Dr Baboucarr Njie, the demand for skilled professionals is at an all-time high, and this requires industry and stakeholders to invest in the provision of infrastructure for students. He recalled that during the graduation of the first batch, a passionate appeal was made to all member states and stakeholders to support providing equipment such as forklifts, mobile cranes, and reach stackers.
He explained that: “The acquisition of these by the university will help reduce the cost for candidates wishing to acquire the skills and to be certified. We continue to hope that we will get assistance in the not-too-distant future.”
The Registrars congratulated the graduates for their decision to embark on the journey of skill acquisition and, most importantly, for completing the course despite the numerous challenges that would have stood in their paths. He added that today’s world of work is one of skills, and all those who have recognised this are developing themselves skillfully and excelling.
Dr Njie said it is therefore important that the students are among those who have awoken to such wisdom, which will make them better and better by the day.
Operations Manager of Meridian Port Services, Emmanuel Ohene Adom, who recounted an industrial action the company faced a year ago, said organisations will prefer a crane operator who can operate a forklift, stacker, and multitask instead of an operator who can only operate a forklift.
He said, “During the construction of our new terminal, we were faced with an industrial action by the local workers. Their complaint was that their Chinese colleagues were paid more compared to them. When we looked at the issue, we realised that one Chinese could work as a carpenter, mason, plumber, electrician, and driver. And so, any day, he had some work to do and was always busy. For our local colleagues, you have a worker saying he was employed as a carpenter; if there is no carpenter work for the day, he refuses to do any other job, and at the same time, he wants to be paid the same as the Chinese.
Mr Ohene Adom said such attitudes must stop, especially because in the next few years, people who are not multi-skilled will be left behind by the youth who have acquired skills in different areas.
A female student who was awarded the best in leadership said:
“I thought that I could get a side gig with a crane operation and then be in the administrative platform or sector where I had the opportunity to express my leadership skills. And of course, at the end of the day, thank God I was given the award. I was not expecting it. But it tells me that I should continue to be great.”
For the President of the National Association for Heavy-Duty Equipment Operators Ghana, Dominic Kofi Eyiah, corporate organisations should make it a point to offer internships, apprenticeships, and mentorship programs that provide practical, hands-on experience to young individuals. This exposure, he said, is invaluable, as it not only teaches them the specific skills needed for a particular industry but also cultivates a strong work ethic and a deep understanding of the corporate culture.
Mr Eyiah said this is a mutually beneficial situation where young talents gain experience while companies assess potential future employees. He encouraged the graduates to explore opportunities in the job market.
