The Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Dr Kamal-Deen Ali, has embarked on a series of high-level engagements with representatives of major shipping lines and terminal operators to bolster Ghana’s standing in the global maritime labor market.
The working visits to Pacific International Lines (PIL) Ghana, Meridian Port Services (MPS), and Maersk Ghana Limited were aimed at securing increased seatime training opportunities for Ghanaian cadets and aligning national policy with the evolving needs of the industry.
PIL
At PIL, the Dr Ali and his team held engagements with the Deputy Managing Director of PIL Ghana, Ms Tamara Naidoo, emphasising on PIL’s consistent contribution to cadet training and berthing.
He noted a recent slowdown in the cadet industry, prompted the GMA to aggressively seek increased training quotas through strategic partnerships.
“In closing ranks with industry, the Authority aims to understand regulatory hurdles that may need addressing at the policy level, while engaging for an increased quota intake for Ghanaian cadets across global shipping fleets,” Dr Ali stated.
The Director General further pointed out that the GMA’s involvement in recent selection processes of cadets for the Kuwait Tanker Oil Company (KOTC) has helped identify skill gaps. These insights, he said will allow the GMA to collaborate with the Regional Maritime University (RMU) to refine training and ensure cadets meet the rigorous requirements of global shipping lines.
The Deputy MD of PIL Ghana, Ms Naidoo on her part revealed that PIL whereas the company presently provides around 10 to 15 slots for cadets training, they were looking at the possibilities of expanding the intake with an additional five as an increased quota annually.
PIL, as an entity, Ms Naidoo pointed out remains a company with one of the most retention rates as far as seafarer employments are concerned.
MPS
At Meridian Port Services (MPS), discussions focused on infrastructure, port efficiency, and the strategic positioning of Tema Port. Dr Ali lauded MPS for its massive investments, viewing them as a key partner in driving the sector’s competitiveness.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MPS, Mr Mohammed Samara, shared an impressive growth trajectory, revealing that the terminal handled 2.3 million twenty-foot equivalent (TEUs) in 2025, representing a 23 percent increase in gateway traffic.
Detailing how the terminal has evolved into a world-class facility with 31-meter-tall cranes and the deepest berths in the sub-region, ensuring Tema successfully emerges as a global transshipment hub for markets as distant as Brazil and South Africa, Mr Samara said the investments were intentional. He pointed out that while their initial transshipment business handled a mere 20 containers per week, volumes quickly surged to over 200,000 TEUs. “This growth is supported by established feeder services connecting Tema to Douala and beyond”, Mr Samara said.
He also pointed out that increasing these feeder frequencies could create a unique window for Ghana to become a bunkering point, which would naturally open more horizons for cadet training and deployment.
Maersk Ghana
At Maersk, discussions underscored the importance of stability, with the Managing Director, Razak Ngula pointing out to Ghana’s consistent regulatory framework and stable security environment becoming the primary draws for global lines seeking predictability.
He commended the efforts of the GMA in ensuring international waters are patrolled safely, noting that the overall security environment remains strong despite isolated incidents.
Regarding cadet deployment, Mr Ngula highlighted a successful social responsibility model in Kenya, where Maersk provided fully funded, 12-month mandatory seatime training for 10 cadets in 2025. He confirmed that the company is currently in discussions with the Regional Maritime University (RMU) to replicate this model here in Ghana, overcoming a significant challenge around practical experience for graduating cadets.
GMA’s Future Outlook
Dr Ali in his remarks shared updates on the Authority’s technical milestones in improving security within Ghana’s maritime domain.
The GMA, he said expects to operationalise the new Vessel Traffic Management and Information System (VTMIS) by June 2026. This system will utilize a network of 20 to 30 long-range cameras mounted along the coast to provide comprehensive reach.
Additionally, following recent incidents involving fishermen off the coast of Senya Beraku waters, Dr Ali stated that retooling the Ghana Navy is being prioritised to enhance maritime security capabilities.
