First CILT in Ghana underway

Transport and Logistics Professionals Important - Horner-Sam
Accra, May 2, GNA - Deputy Minister of Ports and Railways, Mrs. Sophia Horner-Sam on Tuesday stressed the importance of good and well-trained transport and logistics professionals in order to meet the challenges of the new global environment.

She said transportation demands were on the increase as the country continued to make giant strides in its economic development. "If the managers are entrusted with scarce resources and yet do not have the right competencies, Ghana would be the loser," she said. Mrs. Horner-Sam was speaking at the opening session of the Annual Council Meeting and Conference of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) International in Accra.

This is the first time the International Council Meeting and Conference are being held in Africa.

President John Agyekum Kufuor and visiting Princess Anne of UK, an Honorary Past President of the CILT and graced the opening session of the conference.

Mrs Horner-Sam lauded the partnership between CILT and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration to train professionals for the International Certificate in Logistics and Transport. CILT International has accredited GIMPA to start a Diploma course in June this year.

She expressed the hope that the professionals that would come out of this collaboration would assist in the task of humanitarian logistics and sustainable development.

The Accra Conference, which is on the theme: "Humanitarian Logistics and Sustainable Development," will focus on maintaining standards, ensuring accessibility, education and road safety. Mr Richard Hunt, International President of CILT, said sound logistics and well-managed transport infrastructure were key to the development of any economy.

It is in this direction that the Institute had been focusing on professional development through training and quality assurance. The Conference will also provide networking opportunities for participants to learn from best practices to enable them to improve on existing situation across the world.