A six man delegation from the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration, headed by the Executive Director, Alhaji Wurroh Jalloh is in Accra, Ghana’s capital, attending, as a member, the 18th Board of Governors Meeting at the Regional Maritime University in Ghana.

The Regional Maritime University started off as the Ghana Nautical College in 1958 under the Ghanaian Government. The promulgation of the Regional Maritime Law on 1st October,1982 by the government of Ghana  gave way to the signing of the Instrument of  Transfer, handing over the then Ghana Nautical College to the then Ministerial Conference of West and Central Africa, (MOWCA).

Cross section of representative at the summit

MOWCA five member countries (Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon and The Gambia) on Thursday 26th May,1983 came together and formally  inaugurated the Regional Maritime Academy. The Regional Maritime University on the 25th October 2007 attained full University status, becoming the first international and only Maritime University in West and Central Africa with international accreditation and full diplomatic status.

The University offers courses in Ports and Shipping, Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Logistics Management.

A total of 510 students will be graduating on Saturday 10th June 2017 amongst them being students from Benin, Ethiopia and Equatorial Guinea. Graduates from the University are often trained and employed by Bernard Shulte Shipping Company.

At present, there are eight Sierra Leoneans studying at the Regional Maritime University in Ghana. Two (2) are being fully sponsored by the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration, under the leadership of the current Executive Director, Alhaji Wurroh Jalloh. Five (5) are being cosponsored by the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration and Sierra Leone Ports Authority and one (1) getting sponsorship from the Sierra Leone Ports Authority. 

Sierra Leone, through her Maritime Administration and her Ports Authority contributes money regularly in order to help the University achieve financial sustainability in line with the University's vision and mandate. It is the third highest contributor, of the five member countries.

SLMA under the leadership of Mr Alhaji Wurroh Jalloh has also been contributing towards the Regional Maritime University's infrastructural development, laboratory equipments, personnel and expertise that guide the full operations of the University. 

The Regional Maritime University 18th Board of Governors Meeting is slated to end on 9th June 2017. Ministers of Transport of the member countries will be presented with recommendations by the Committee of Experts, to make the Regional Maritime University more efficient in achieving it strategic goals.

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Hon. Leonard Balogun Koroma will be in attendance together with SLMA’s Executive Director.

Also attending with the Executive Director are the institution's Head of Account,Admin/HR Director and the Public Relations Manager.

Representing the Sierra Leone Ports Authority are Financial Controller and the Planning Manager.

The Sierra Leone Maritime Administration under the watch of the current Executive Director has been working assiduously in meeting national expectations like in regulating passenger vessels across the country. Alhaji Wurroh Jalloh's tenure has proved to be productive.

SLMA COMMUNICATIONS UNIT