Daily human supplies like food, medicine, cars, building materials, and finished raw materials, reach us in our homes through the hard work of seafarers within the supply chain.

The concentration is usually on the producers and the consumers, forgetting that without the sandwiched actors who ensure transportation of the supplies, the connection between producers and consumers will be broken.

This is especially true within the maritime domain which dominates the other forms of transportation throughput by road, air, and railways with an estimated 80%, according to the International Maritime Organization.  It goes without saying that global supply chains and associated economies will grind to a halt if seafarers do not play their role.

For Ghana Maritime Authority(GMA), recognition of the immense role Ghanaian seafarers play includes ensuring local content and job security for them. It is no coincidence that the Cabotage draft bill which aims at getting many Ghanaian seafarers employed is being readied for Parliament and getting passed – all things being equal.

That notwithstanding, the GMA is not resting on its oars and has streamlined the operation of vessels in tandem with the expectations of the Cabotage. This was revealed by the Director-General, Mr. Thomas Kofi Alonsi, at the Day of the Seafarer event at Crismon Hotel.

‘’As you may be aware, the Authority has been at the forefront of championing a Cabotage Law designed to ensure that as many of you as possible gain employment. We are determined to ensure that a sizeable percentage of jobs are reserved for our seafarers by foreign vessels operating within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction,’’ he said.

‘’While the draft bill is going through processes of being laid before Parliament and debated before being passed, the Authority is exploring other avenues of compelling foreign vessels operating solely within our maritime jurisdiction, a requirement for proof of employment of local seafarers, ‘’ he stressed.

The DG further revealed what steps are being taken to ensure conformity to the new measures. ‘’We intend to enforce these regulations religiously. We are confident that these efforts would bear fruits very soon. After all, our agenda is, ‘’A Fair Future for Seafarers’’. Ghanaian seafarers must also benefit from Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction.’’

The president of Seafarer Center Ghana, Mr.Edem Kofi Loh, commended the GMA for the domestication of the global event, the Cabotage Law, and many more but asked for more initiatives to help seafarers. ‘’We are glad the Ghana Maritime Authority has taken it upon itself, for the past few years to celebrate the Day of the Seafarer,’’ he added.

‘’Indeed, we commend the Maritime Administration for their efforts. We are encouraged by the audience given thus far; however, we admit there is much more to be done. We acknowledge the hard work and effort into getting the Cabotage Bill/Law to where it is presently,’’ he pointed out.

‘’We have been duly updated on progress with the opening of the Ghana shipping registry and making it more economically viable for both the nation and the seafarer community at large,’’ he further said.