The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has established a 12-member committee tasked with formulating a comprehensive and implementable National Seafarer Development Programme (NSDP) to enhance the nation’s maritime workforce.
The committee chaired by the Acting Director of Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation at the GMA, Dr. Richard Lartey, aims to create Ghana’s official framework for seafarer training, deployment, welfare, and international labour market access.
The Committee is also expected to harmonize recommendations with ongoing GMA initiatives on cadetship, certification, and digital credential systems, as well as institutional and governance arrangements for NSDP implementation.
They have five weeks to present their report to the GMA’s Director General, focusing on validating financial and human resource implications to ensure alignment with the Authority’s strategic plan.
This initiative is aligned with the government’s priorities in addressing youth employment and aims to improve the quality of seafarer training and development. The NSDP is envisioned as a powerful tool for poverty alleviation and generating foreign exchange for the country.
During the inaugural meeting on Tuesday, the GMA’s Deputy Director General (DDG), Mr. Mubarick Masawudu, emphasized the long-standing commitment to advancing the maritime sector through enhanced seafarer training.
He remarked on the necessity of developing a structured approach to seafarer education and training that aligns with Ghana’s contributions to the global maritime labour market.
Mr. Masawudu noted that the GMA has received “very positive feedback” from shipowners, which emphasizes the need for a robust and comprehensive plan.
He stated that, “There must be something comprehensive,” urging the committee to build upon past efforts and ensure the programme is not merely a piecemeal solution.
The DDG also highlighted successful models from other nations that have leveraged seafarer programs “as a tool to lift people out of poverty, raise jobs, and engage young people in bringing on foreign exchange”.
He mentioned Ethiopia, which has invested $8 million into its seafarer programme, successfully training cadets and securing sea time, a structured development Ghana aims to replicate.
As part of this ambitious rollout, the GMA is preparing to establish a dedicated unit focused on seafarer development and promotion, mandated to implement the provisions laid out in the NSDP blueprint.
Margaret Adjeley Sowah, ISD
