The Director of the Port of Tema, Sandra Opoku has encouraged women in the maritime and shipping industry to take part in the IMO SheEO leadership programme which is focused on equipping women with leadership skills and confidence to enable them participate in decision-making in the industry.

This, according to her, is a way of encouraging gender equality in the maritime industry for a sustainable tomorrow.

Speaking at the Celebration of the International Women’s Day organised by Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA Ghana) in the Western Region, she indicated that having women in positions of authority is crucial, but that must come on the back of seafaring experience, education, and training.

Mrs. Opoku said, “women, I encourage you that, you have to take your own place at the table. Do not expect to have the red carpet rolled out for you just because you are a woman. You have to prepare yourself so that when the opportunity comes you take your place.”

She said it is imperative that women’s role in maritime activities are advanced by ensuring there are opportunities for them to be educated and gain experience in maritime activities.

The Director of the Port of Tema added that, “efforts to ensure safety and support for female seafarers and infrastructural changes that will ensure female physical security on board ships are also needed. Most of the time, when you go on vessels, it is just one woman when you have more than twenty crew members.”

President of WISTA-Ghana Jemilat Jawulaa Mahamah acknowledged that in order to harness gender fairness in the nation’s maritime trade, women have to be allowed to play significant roles.

She said, “women who go to sea must gain multilevel and multisector experience such as executive and engineering experience rather than being limited to entry or low paying occupations.”

She expressed joy over the rise in the number of women receiving education and training required for careers such as marine piloting which entails steering ships into ports and harbours.

The Western Regional Minister Kwabena Otchere Darko-Mensah said it is imperative for Ghana to adapt measures that will promote greater women participation in Ghana’s maritime domain by stifling all forms of discrimination and traits of inequality to enable women attain high positions within the corporate ladder of the maritime industry

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According to him there is ample evidence to prove that investing in women has been effective in lifting communities and countries.

He said, “countries with better gender equality have better economic outcomes.”