The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has renewed calls for the ratification of the International Labour Organisation’s Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention, 2003 (C185), ending a 23-year delay that has left Ghanaian seafarers facing travel restrictions and professional setbacks across major global ports.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement on Monday, in Accra, the Director General of the GMA, Dr Kamal-Deen Ali (Naval Capt Rtd), warned that the delay has damaged Ghana’s maritime reputation and created operational inefficiencies.
He explained that current Ghanaian identity documents are often not recognised abroad, forcing seafarers to endure restricted access and cumbersome visa requirements.
Dr Ali stressed that the Authority’s “resetting agenda” provides the momentum needed to restore competitiveness and ensure Ghanaian sailors can match their peers globally, emphasising that ratification of the convention would not just be a compliance issue but a strategic necessity for Ghana’s maritime future.
Representing the Minister for Transport, Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the Director of General Administration, Mr Richard Fidieley, said the government would position the maritime sector as a pathway to curb unemployment.
He stated that aligning Ghana’s systems with international standards would create smoother crew change processes and strengthen national security. “Our ambition extends beyond the region to the global stage,” he added.
The Country Director for Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, Capt. Joshua Addo disclosed that Ghanaian seafarers face de facto sanctions in Brazil, where they must secure costly one-year visas involving notarised bank statements and couriered documents.
“Nearly 25 per cent of seafarers are likely to call at Brazilian ports during their tenure, and ratification would immediately replace this cumbersome process with a globally recognised biometric identity,” he explained.
The President of the Maritime Professionals Club, Capt. Teddy Mensah mentioned the humanitarian dimension, noting that sailors are often denied shore leave, affecting their mental well-being.
According to him, this confinement affects the mental well-being of the crew, a situation the new identification system aims to rectify.
The forum brought together representatives from the Attorney General’s Department, Ghana Merchant Navy Officers Association, Marine Police, National Union of Seamen, Port and Allied Workers, academia, and various ministries and agencies, all united in pushing for Ghana’s long-overdue ratification of C185.
Margaret Adjeley Sowah, ISD.
