184 Freighters And Clearing Agents Graduate From GIFF Academy

A total of 184 graduates of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) have been awarded diplomas and certificates after successfully completing their courses at the seventh graduation ceremony held over the weekend in Tema.

About 106 students received diplomas while the remaining 78 received certificates after completing their programmes in general freight forwarding principles applicable in maritime transport, customs procedure, as well as logistics and warehousing, etc.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, president of the institute, Kwabena Ofosu-Appiah, tasked the graduates to apply the knowledge they had acquired to help facilitate the needed change in the industry.

He indicated: “Society and industry will be looking up to you with lots of expectations to generate new ideas that will help deal with the contemporary challenges of the profession using modern approaches.

“We are looking for transformative leaders among you; leaders who will shape the country's development trajectory through continuous innovation and serve as role models for the future generation.”

According to Mr Ofosu-Appiah, the GIFF Academy continues to maintain its leadership position in the delivery of quality and high performance capacity building and professional training, a feat that has sustained its position as the FIATA centre of excellence in the African sub-region.

He said the institute is repositioning itself to better handle the rapidly changing dynamics of the freight logistics sub-sector, citing the surge in globalization with its attendant ICT infusion of “app-start” interventions.

“As an institute, we shall continue to look out for strategic partners and build networks that will enable us to diversify our capacities in order to secure our future,” he said.

Mr. Ofosu-Appiah commended the leadership at the Education Department of the institute whose efforts have resulted in partnerships with the University of Cape Coast, as well as “online platform masters, Strabsnet, for building a diversified portfolio to equip its members to respond to the changing needs of players in the customs brokerage industry.

He noted: “As the current leadership, we shall continue to support and build on the strong foundation of excellence that has been laid by our predecessors.”