The National Vice President of Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA) Ghana, Madam Paulina Abrokwah, has raised concerns that the high cost of professional maritime training is discouraging many women from pursuing careers in the shipping industry.
She made the observation at a media forum organised with support from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), where stakeholders discussed ways to improve female participation in maritime professions.
Madam Abrokwah explained that while employment opportunities exist for female cadets, the cost of maritime education remains a major obstacle, particularly for young women who aspire to enter nautical science and marine engineering fields.
She noted that some training programmes are priced in foreign currency, further limiting access for many prospective students.
According to her, increased financial assistance and scholarship schemes would be crucial in bridging the gender gap in the sector and improving women’s representation in technical and operational maritime roles.
She commended international shipping company Hafnia for offering employment opportunities to female cadets trained at the Regional Maritime University, describing it as a positive step toward addressing graduate employment challenges in the industry.
Madam Abrokwah, however, stressed that broader access to maritime education is still needed and called on shipping lines, freight forwarders and other industry players to support female-focused scholarship initiatives.
