Ghana Maritime Authority boss calls for visa waiver for seafarers

The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Dr Kamal-Deen Ali, has raised concerns about the negative impact of visa restrictions on Ghanaian seafarers.

He explained that earlier visa restrictions imposed by the US government nearly brought Ghana’s maritime industry to a standstill.

Existing Ghanaian seafarers employed globally faced difficulties renewing contracts or extending employment, while newly trained seafarers also struggled to secure placements.

Fortunately, following diplomatic engagement, the US visa ban has since been lifted.

Dr Kamal-Deen Ali made these remarks during a courtesy call on the GMA by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Dorcas Afo Toffey on October 1, 2025.

Addressing new visa restrictions imposed by Brazil, he urged the government to engage Brazilian authorities to secure a waiver for Ghanaian seafarers.

He noted that although Ghana has not yet fully migrated to the new seafarer identification chip system, the existing seafarer book should continue to be recognised in the interim.

“We have written to the ministry regarding the Brazil issue, and we hope that Brazil will be engaged to grant us a waiver while we transition to the chip system. The aim is for our seafarers to eventually use the chip rather than the book, but this process will take some time,” he said.

He further cautioned that restrictions on seafarer cards in Brazil present serious challenges.

“In the cruise ship industry, about 60 to 70 percent of all cruise ships call at U.S. ports, while roughly 50 percent call at Brazilian ports. Without the proper entry requirements for seafarers, this becomes a significant challenge,” he explained.

Dr Kamal-Deen Ali also highlighted that nearly every ship calls at a US port at least once or several times per year, stressing the importance of smooth entry processes for Ghanaian seafarers.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Dorcas Afo Toffey, commended the GMA for its work, particularly in training seafarers, and pledged her ministry’s support to address the Authority’s challenges, including congestion and space limitations.

SA/MA

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