Sustainable employment opportunities for Ghanaian youth remains a top priority for the Schulte Group and the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Ghana.

A growing five-year relationship between the two organisations has led to the Schulte Group’s latest contribution to youth education in Africa, through the cementing of the ground stone for a Business and Training Centre in Ghana, which will serve the maritime and offshore sector in the Gulf of Guinea.

The ceremony took place in November 2017, with Capt Joshua Addo, Managing Director of Schulte Maritime Service (SMS) Ghana, and Eva Rodriguez, BS Manager HR Marine Strategies, hosting the ‘Ground Breaking Ceremony’ on a one-acre plot of land leased to RMU in Accra.

In his welcoming speech, Prof Elvis Nyarko, Vice Chancellor of RMU, emphasised the strong cooperation with the Schulte Group.

“Following a meeting with Ian Beveridge, Schulte Group CEO, earlier in the year, Bernhard Schulte expressed their interest to expand their operations by building an office and training complex on campus. This initiative will open substantial employment opportunities to the students of this institution,”
he explained.

The ceremony was also attended by the Ghanaian Honorary Minister of Transport, Mr. Kweku Ofori Asiamah, who expressed his belief that the construction of the SMS Ghana office was a symbol of the growing relationship between the two institutions.

Ian underlined the importance of SMS Ghana becoming part of a developing demographic with a wealth of natural resources and a growing middle-class with the potential to create growth markets. Ian also stated that both entities have been working hard to strengthen their cooperation, especially for the young people in the West-African region, who will gain new opportunities, perspectives, and empowerment.

Eva commented positively on the high performance of the BSM Ghanaian crew and cadets. She added,

“Our engagement in training and development demonstrate the dynamism of our cooperation in the educational sector. In 2012, the pool of West African Schulte Group seafarers counted less than 30. Today, five years later, we count more than 300. If we continue like this in 5 years from now, we may easily expand to over 3,000.”