The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has successfully facilitated international sea-time placements for a new cohort of Ghanaian cadets aboard vessels operated by Pacific International Lines (PIL) in Singapore, marking another step in expanding global training opportunities for the country’s future seafarers.
The deployment also achieved a historic first for Ghana’s maritime education sector, with Emmanuel Elorm Adjaho becoming the first graduate from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Marine Engineering programme to secure an international sea-time placement.
The achievement broadens access to global maritime training beyond the traditional pathway through the Regional Maritime University (RMU).
The Director-General of the GMA, Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, welcomed the cadets during a courtesy call at his office and congratulated them on their perseverance in pursuing careers in the maritime industry.
While commending the cadets, Dr. Ali also highlighted the significant financial barriers confronting many young Ghanaians seeking maritime education.
He noted that tuition fees for a four-year programme at the Regional Maritime University range between US$37,000 and US$40,000, making professional seafaring training inaccessible to many qualified students.
Dr. Ali therefore called on government, industry players and other stakeholders to collaborate in establishing a Seafarers Development Fund to support aspiring seafarers.
According to him, such a fund would make maritime education more affordable, expand access to professional training and provide financial support for young people interested in pursuing careers at sea rather than limiting themselves to more traditional professions.
The initiative underscores the Ghana Maritime Authority’s broader efforts to develop the country’s maritime workforce by creating more international training opportunities while advocating sustainable financing to nurture the next generation of Ghanaian seafarers.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
