Accra, Oct. 7, GNA - The Ministry of Ports, Harbours and Railways is to introduce a legislation that would lead to the establishment of the Ghana Maritime Authority.

The creation of the Authority would lead to financial autonomy of the maritime industry such that five per cent of all proceeds emanating from the maritime trade would be used ostensibly for the development of the Authority and the maritime industry.

Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways, who announced this at this week's meet-the-press series in Accra, said an Inland Port Development Authority was of great interest to the Government and it would be established when the Maritime Development Authority was securely in operation.

" ... Improvements to inland port activity would greatly affect the lives of residents of the various undeveloped river and riverine port areas as well as the lives of fisher folks."

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said the Inland Port Authority would significantly help to reduce lake accidents and lead to the culture of the construction of modern river crafts.

He said the Ministry would lay before Cabinet proposals for Ghana to sign the 1988 Protocol of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue.