Women have influenced the  development of the maritime industry and Ghana can pride itself with some of the world's best female Ship Captains as the  Regional Maritime University continue to produce more female maritime industry players.

Deputy Minister for Transport, Hon. Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover was speaking at the launch of the Ghana Chapter of Women in Maritime Africa (WIMAGHANA), yesterday, Wednesday, 24th October, 2018.

WIMA is an Association of women in the maritime industry and it's trading services in Africa which aims to promote the interest of women in developing their respective careers in the industry.

The Deputy Minister indicated that women play significant roles in the socio-economic development of many economies, hence the recognition of women in the Agenda 2063 of the African Union Charter which seeks to improve national economies in Africa.

He mentioned that the maritime industry controls over 80 percent of global trade and mostly dominated by males and that WIMAGHANA would provide an opportunity for women to   make an impact.

He encouraged members of the Association to take steps in providing the right platform for harnessing the potentials of female seafarers and maritime industry players.

The Deputy Minister urged appealed all males to support female professionals in their various fields of endeavour in order to bring the needed development in society.

He added that government is making efforts to empower women in all professions hence the launch of the “He for She" campaign by His Excellency the President in December 2017.

The Vice Chancellor of the Regional Maritime University (RMU), Professor Elvis Nyarko disclosed that RMU exist to provide adequate training to both male and female and that RUM would continue encourage more females to take up jobs in the maritime sector.

For her part, the President of the Association, Captain Hannah Aggrey urged members of the Association to work hard to change the narrative of discrimination among women in the sector.

Present were the first female Captain of Ghana's Black Star Line shipping vessel, Captain Beatrice Vormawah, representatives of the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection as well as the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture.