Speaking during the commemoration of the International Day of the Seafarer on June 25, Dr. Kamal-Deen disclosed that President John Dramani Mahama is expected to officially launch the policy in the coming months as part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s maritime workforce and expand the country’s presence in the global shipping industry.
According to him, the policy will serve as a comprehensive framework for promoting the development of Ghanaian seafarers, creating employment opportunities, and increasing the country’s economic gains from the maritime sector.
“It will outline the action plans we intend to implement to promote Ghanaian seafarers, increase our global seafarer numbers, and enable the country to benefit from the remittances they generate,” he said.
Dr. Kamal-Deen also acknowledged that many aspiring seafarers struggle to access financial support because maritime training institutions, including the Regional Maritime University, are not covered by some national educational financing schemes.
To address this challenge, he said the Authority is considering introducing a financial support mechanism, such as a loan or grant scheme, to assist students pursuing maritime careers.
He further revealed that additional measures are being developed to strengthen the welfare and social protection of seafarers, including establishing an emergency support fund.
He explained that such a fund could assist Ghanaian seafarers facing emergencies abroad, such as covering evacuation costs for those requiring urgent medical attention.
On gender inclusion, Dr. Kamal-Deen said the Ghana Maritime Authority has intensified efforts to increase female participation in the maritime industry.
He noted that shipping companies partnering with the Authority are encouraged to reserve opportunities for women, while mentorship programmes have also been introduced to support their career growth.
“Whenever we engage shipping companies to create opportunities for Ghanaian seafarers, we insist that a significant number of those opportunities should be allocated to women,” he said.
He added that the Authority is also working to strengthen the welfare of women in the maritime sector by creating mentorship and guidance programmes that connect them with experienced professionals.
Source: 3news
