The need for a hydrographic science education program in West Africa and building the capacity to deliver it.

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is an intergovernmental organization focused on ensuring that nautical charting and hydrographic services are available worldwide, for safety of navigation, management of marine resources, marine science, and other purposes. The IHO, along with the International Federation of Surveyors and the International Cartographic Association, publishes a set of standards of competence for hydrographic surveyors and cartographers at two levels of competency, and accredit hydrographic science programs at educational and training institutions for those programs that meet the established requirements. According to IHO publication C-47 (2011), there are presently 29 countries worldwide that offer accredited hydrographic and/or cartographic programs. In all of Africa, only Egypt has a certified program and it is a Category-B (Cat-B) Hydrography program taught in Arabic. In west Africa, Ghana is uniquely placed to establish a hydrography education program. Beginning with participation in the Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School in Ghana in 2017, the University of Southern Mississippi has begun an informal consultative relationship with the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Accra, Ghana about developing an IHO certified Cat-B program in Hydrography. RMU is well poised for such a program because it is a regional university with member countries including Ghana, The Gambia, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Liberia, and it has a working relationship with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, which operates the Ports of Tema and Takoradi with a well- resourced hydrographic survey team led by a Cat A Hydrographer. RMU is also developing a closer collaboration with the University of Ghana, which has a Department of Marine and Fisheries Science, and this could include participation in the hydrographic science program and help develop the natural ties between mapping and charting and marine resource management and science in West Africa.