Whitestone Shipbrokers & The West Africa School of Shipping celebrates a year of being an Anchor Providing Professional Maritime Education & Training. The programme was held on 5th September 2023 and was climaxed with a prize giving ceremony for students who have completed the Foundation Diploma, Advance Diploma and Professional Qualifying Examination courses of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) London. Twenty-eight (28) participants who completed the Understanding Shipping and Port Agency courses also received certificates of participation.
The Executive Director of the West Africa School of Shipping, Gertrude Adwoa Ohene Asienim (FICS) emphasized why continuous professional education and development is necessary for maritime professionals. She added “Understanding shipping is recommended for everyone working in shipping. Today’s shipping world is constantly changing and evolving and therefore continuous professional development is necessary for all to stay abreast with modern trends. Every accountant aspires to charter in accountancy and so should we in shipping aspire to get a professional qualification in addition to our degrees and diplomas,” she admonished.
The Director of the ICS, Robert Hill FICS who joined online, expressed his congratulations to those who had excelled and all those who had qualified. He also indicated that studying with the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers is the best option for everyone who wants to understand the maritime world in totality.
The West Africa Branch Chairman Mr. Frank Tony Eshun FICS congratulate the awardees for their handwork and dedication to the course of professional maritime education and indicated studying with ICS is the best option for everyone in the maritime world.
The Special Guest of Honour was Ms. Beniota Bismarck, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority who was represented by the Head of Public Relations Ms. Bernice Laako Natue, expressed admiration for increased women participation in the maritime industry, spurring them on for more. “It is very encouraging and motivating to learn that we are not just doing anything but, we are seeking to build professionals who can match the world standards and who can fit in anywhere,” she declared.
The Chairman for the Occasion was Dr Emmanul Kofi Mbiah a renowned private Legal Practitioner, senior Lecturer, and Maritime Consultant. He admonished the various graduands to apply what they have learned in their various professional fields.
Premising his message on Whitestone Shipbrokers Motto of being “An Anchor of Professional Maritime Education and Training” he indicated “The education, the training is indeed an anchor, and it is therefore very gratifying to note that this morning we have a few of you who have gone through the process to build your anchor. You cannot build your anchor and leave it there; it should be a process that continues and therefore continuous Professional education training is important for all of us.”
Represents from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHPA), Regional Maritime University, Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute, Freight Forwarding Associations, Shipping Agencies, Legal practitioners, Logistics companies and other guest from the maritime community were present to extend their goodwill messages.
Fellows, members and student members of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, West Africa Branch were in attendance.
The highlight of the day being the cutting of the anniversary cake. Happy anniversary West Africa School of Shipping & Whitestone Shipbrokers.
Krishnan Subramanian FICS is a seasoned professional in the areas of Supply Chain, Logistics and Commercial Shipping. He is currently the Strategic Adviser for Transworld group, UAE/India for Tankers and Liquid cargo logistics. He is also a Member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) UAE Steering Committee, Customs & Trade Facilitation Commission. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (FICS) U.K, a trainer for ICS, NAFL Dubai, Maersk Training, Dubai Shipping Agents Association (DSAA) and Bahrain Shipping Agents Association (BSAA). He has equal experience in academics as Academic Advisor at AMET Chennai and Frontline Academy of Logistics and Adjunct faculty at S.P.Jain School of Global Management, Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Dubai and NMIMS, Mumbai.
Nathaniel Kojo Nti is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, UK and a Chartered where he serves as the General Secretary of the Institute’s West Africa Branch. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK. He holds an MBA in International Trade from Anhalt University of Applied Science, Department of Economics, Germany, and a BSc. Ports and Shipping Administration from the Regional Maritime University, Accra Ghana. He is a Freight Forwarder and a shipping professional. He currently works with OMA Logistics Ghana Ltd as the Head of Freight Management and lectures at the Regional Maritime University and is a tutor at the West Africa School of Shipping, Ghana.
Gertrude Adwoa Ohene-Asienim FICS is the Executive Director of Whitestone Shipbrokers and West Africa School of Shipping. She is a Chartered Shipbroker, Lecturer and Maritime Consultant with over twenty years’ combined experience in Shipping, Oil & Gas, and Academia specialising in International Trade Transactions, Marine Insurance and Maritime Law.
