The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Naval Captain Dr Kamal-Deen Ali (Rtd), has reaffirmed the authority's commitment to promoting the welfare of seafarers and expanding opportunities within Ghana's maritime sector.
Speaking during the commemoration of the International Day of the Seafarer at the GMA office yesterday in Tema, Dr Ali described seafarers as the invisible force behind global trade and economic development.
Observed annually on June 25 and established by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the International Day of the Seafarer honours the over 1.9 million seafarers worldwide who facilitate global trade. This year's celebration was held on the theme: "Carrying World Trade, Carrying the Risk."
Dr Ali said the global community survived and remained interconnected because of maritime transport.
"The global community is only global because of maritime. Maritime transport connects nations and sustains global trade," he stated.
He explained that seafarers played a crucial role in transporting essential commodities such as fuel, medical supplies, food and industrial equipment, stressing that without their services, national economies would grind to a halt.
"Behind every country's success and economic growth are seafarers working tirelessly at sea. They keep the global community functioning," he said.
Maritime heritage
Dr Ali also highlighted Ghana's maritime heritage, tracing it to the vision of Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who established the Black Star Line and laid the foundation for the country's maritime development.
The GMA Director-General praised past and present leadership, as well as staff of the authority, for contributing to Ghana's inclusion on the International Maritime Organisation's White List. This achievement reflects the country's high standards in maritime training and certification.
He stated that Ghana's internationally recognised certification system had attracted seafarers from across Africa and beyond to obtain professional qualifications in the country.
Policy
Regarding efforts to develop the sector, Dr Ali announced that the GMA was finalising a National Seafarer Development Policy, which is expected to be launched in the coming months.
He disclosed that the policy would also establish financial support mechanisms, including loan schemes, to assist students pursuing maritime education and training.
The policy, he explained, would provide a framework to increase the number of Ghanaian seafarers, create employment opportunities for the youth and enable the country to benefit from seafarers' remittances.
Recognising the unique nature of maritime careers, Dr Ali said the authority was also working to integrate seafarers into national social protection systems and establish a welfare fund to support seafarers during emergencies, medical evacuations and cases of abandonment.
Inclusivity
He also commended Ghanaian women seafarers, describing them as among the best globally and disclosed that the GMA was collaborating with Sea Women Hub to provide mentorship and guidance for women pursuing careers at sea.
As part of the celebration, Dr Ali interacted with seafarers who had visited the Tema office for certification and renewal services.
He assured them of the authority's commitment to continuous improvement in service delivery.
He encouraged Ghanaian youth to explore careers in the maritime industry, stressing that the sector offers enormous employment opportunities and prospects for national development.
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