The Minister of Harbours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, has announced that the Regional Maritime Academy has been lifted to the status of a university and would therefore be awarding degrees on its own. He said this would help in the capacity building in both human and capital resource and in all member-countries in the sub-region. Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi, who is the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Academy, said this at a meeting of board members, management and students of the RMA. A special lecture on “Preparedness, Response and Co-operation of Maritime Emergencies: Sub-regional Dimensions and Status,” was for the first time included in the meeting to afford RMA students the opportunity to learn from the experience of maritime experts in the sub-region. The Minister noted that there was the need to recruit young lecturers with preferably doctorial or professional qualification to replace the aging ones due to the increase in the number of students in order to maintain academic standards. He said the government of Ghana in response to physical infrastructure was expanding existing facilities and building new ones and therefore called on member states and donor agencies to supplement the efforts. Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi commended the management and staff of the institution for their immense contribution to the current university status of RMA and for their initiative and efforts at implementing some infrastructure projects like the VSAT Backbone to improve telecommunication. He said: “This will provide direct satellite links to the various academic departments and offices which would enhance learning and research in the school.” He said Ghana would also continue to contribute towards the development of the Academy’s capital projects in addition to three million dollars already allocated for the construction of a new administrative block and library complex. Source: GNA