Effort by the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) to enforce compliance to safe and decent working conditions for seafarers have been met with scandals and allegations of corruption against some of its officers by disgruntled ship manning agents, according to the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG).
GMA, the state agency responsible for licensing seafarers and vessels operating on Ghana’s territorial waters, introduced the marine labour certification program to regularize and improve working conditions for workers at sea, especially those working on commercial fishing vessels.
It is Ghana’s response to the requirements of the ILO’s Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (C188) (C188)—which was ratified in August this year. The convention seeks to combat poor working conditions and exploitation in the global fishing industry, where many are vulnerable to abuse and hazardous work.
But according to the IEAG, ship manning agencies whose licenses have been revoked for not facilitating the safety and decency of work for the crew that they recruit for their respective vessels, have resorted to implicating some officials of the GMA.
“The attention of IEAG has been drawn to a recent news report circulating in the Ghanaian media alleging corrupt practices involving staff of the Ghana Maritime Authority.
These allegations purportedly being made by disgruntled ship manning agents whose licenses have been revoked for violations are baseless and without merit,” the IEAG said in a statement signed by its executive secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit, and copied to Maritimelivegh.com.
The IEAG says it was very unfortunate that the defaulting manning agents have resorted to spreading false and misleading allegations against the GMA.
“Whilst acknowledging the role of local ship manning agencies in the development of Ghana’s marine sector, the GMA as the regulatory body, is responsible for ensuring that these agencies operate in accordance with established rules and regulations governing the maritime industry,” it further stated.
The ILO Convention 188 prescribes the need for clear work agreements, decent wages and proper medical care for fishers at sea. It also sets standards for accommodation and food for those living on fishing vessels, as well as social security protection, including medical care and financial support.
In enforcing compliance to these labour requirements, the GMA is mandated to renew the license of only vessels that have made the necessary provisions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their crew at sea, and to revoke that of non-compliant vessels or ship manning agencies.
Some of the affected manning agencies have been found to be charging exorbitant fees to trained seafarers in exchange for facilitating their recruitment and employment on foreign vessels—actions that directly contravene maritime laws.
“We [IEAG] condemns these malicious claims and urge the public to disregard them; and we further call on all stakeholders to support the GMA in its effort to improve and safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s maritime sector for the greater benefit of the nation,” the statement concluded.