Ghana Maritime Authority operationalises inland waterway unit as World Maritime Day is marked

The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has fully operationalised its inland waterway unit to regulate and oversee the activities of boat operators across the country’s rivers and lakes.

Dr Kamal-Deen Ali, Director-General of GMA, announced this at a durbar commemorating the 2025 World Maritime Day, held under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity.” He explained that the inland waterway unit, headquartered in Akosombo, aligns with the government’s vision of a 24-hour economy by ensuring the safe movement of people, goods and services along inland waterways to boost economic activity.

According to him, work is ongoing to identify areas for infrastructure upgrades, improve navigation aids, and strengthen enforcement of safety standards. He further revealed that the Authority is in advanced discussions with the Ghana Navy to crew and operate its Tier 3 oil response vessel, MV Esther Ocloo, in offshore oil fields to enhance safety, security and environmental protection.

Dr Ali disclosed that the GMA has also acquired an advanced over-the-horizon surveillance system and upgraded its Vessel Traffic Monitoring Information System (VTMIS) to improve detection of maritime activities beyond the visible horizon. Plans are also underway for a state-of-the-art Maritime Fusion Centre that will integrate data from multiple agencies and international partners for real-time intelligence sharing and rapid response to maritime threats.

As part of its reset agenda, he noted, staff of the Authority are undergoing realignment to improve productivity. Earlier this year, the GMA signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with key partners to enhance seafarers’ working and living conditions.

On environmental protection, Dr Ali stressed that Ghana must tackle the menace of plastic pollution, which threatens fisheries, tourism and food security. He cited UNEP figures estimating that 11 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year, a figure that could triple by 2040 if urgent measures are not taken.

“This is not only an environmental threat; it is an economic and public health challenge,” he said, urging fisherfolk to retrieve lost nets, shipping operators to use port reception facilities, households to cut down on single-use plastics, and schools and youth groups to lead clean-up campaigns.

He emphasised that protecting Ghana’s oceans requires collective responsibility, noting: “If every household simply stopped throwing plastic into gutters, we would remove tonnes of waste from our marine environment each year.”