The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) is responsible for the training and certification of Ghanaian Seafarers in accordance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watch keeping for Seafarers (STCW) 1978 as amended. The STCW Convention establishes the minimum basic requirements on training, certification, and watch keeping for seafarers internationally. The Convention has been incorporated into Ghanaian law by the Ghana Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watch keeping) for Seafarers, 2016, LI 2226.
Seafarers desirous of obtaining valid Ghanaian Certificates of Competency (CoC) are thus, required to meet the minimum basic requirements of the STCW Convention incorporated into Ghanaian law through the Ghana Shipping (Standards on Training, Certification, and Watch keeping for Seafarers) Regulations, 2016, L.I. 2229. In pursuance of this, GMA conducts examinations and issues CoC to seafarers trained at approved Maritime Education and Training Institutions (METIs). The Authority currently has one approved METI, namely the Regional Maritime University. The Authority has also undertaken an action in relation to Regulation I/10 of the STCW Convention on mutual recognition of certificates, culminating in Memoranda of Understanding with 34 major ship owning countries. This means that Seafarers with Ghanaian CoC have a variety of ships and countries to work with.
Certificates and Other Documents issued by the Authority
- Certificates of Competency
- Certificates of Proficiency
- Certificates of Endorsement
- Seafarer’s Record Book and Certificate of Discharge
- Cadet record book
- Seafarers Identity Document
- Seafarer medical fitness certificate