The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport with the mandate of regulating Ghana’s waterborne transportation system and the maritime industry generally, coordinates the functions as enshrined in the Ghana Shipping Act 2003 (Act 645).
The key role of the Authority is the implementation of the requirements of International Maritime Conventions, and National Rules and Regulations promulgated in accordance with provisions of the Ghana Shipping Act 2003 (Act 645).
In furtherance of the above, the Authority oversees all maritime-related infrastructures such as ships, and ports, as well as vessel operations, maritime pollution, port security, and the training, examination, certification, and welfare of Seafarers. The nationality of a ship refers to the national character of a ship granted by a State to entitle the ship to fly its flag and to enjoy the freedom of the High Seas. For a ship to gain nationality, it ought to be registered. Registration is often defined as the entering of particulars of the ship including its ownership and management structure into formal public records after which the ship is issued with documents that serve as evidence of the grant of nationality.
Every Flag State is therefore required to maintain a register of ships containing the names and particulars of ships flying its flag. The Authority’s core mandate relates to Promoting safe waterborne transportation, conducting Surveys and Inspections of Boats on inland waterways, Training boat operators/mechanics, Registration of ships, Seafarers, and related functions, Port State control of foreign ships, and Flag State control of Ghanaian ships. Other related maritime activities such as maritime education and training, the conduct of examinations leading to the issuance of various certificates of Competency and/or Proficiency to seafaring personnel, conducting inquiries/investigations into marine casualties, manning of ships, seafarers’ welfare matters, dealing with matters pertaining to prevention/control/combat of marine pollution, adoption and implementation of International Maritime Conventions, search, and rescue, supervising ship-building, ship-repairing, ship recycling, removal of wrecks, dry-docking, and port operations also fall under the Authority’s mandate. The GMA is essentially a regulatory Authority that ensures the Safety of Life at Sea/Inland waterways and the protection of the marine environment for the benefit of the Shipping industry and Seafarers.
