Africa-Press – Ghana. The National Tripartite Work in Fishing (NTWF), Committee has held a stakeholder engagement to identify and address lapses in the Industrial Fishing sector.
This follows the coming into force of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention (C188), which was rectified on August 28, 2024.
The convention which came into force yesterday, August 28, 2025, a year after the ratification, aims to ensure safer and fairer working conditions for fishers in the country’s fishing industry.
Mr. Awudu Inusah, Chairman of the Committee, said the engagement which sought to build consensus among stakeholders also aimed at addressing challenges with the implementation of the ratification by some of the stakeholders.
He said the committee, comprising representatives from the regulator, employers, and workers, would implement the provisions of the convention, where the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) would issue Maritime Labour Certificates to vessels that met the required labour standards.
“These standards will be a prerequisite for obtaining a fishing license from the Fisheries Commission,” he said.
Implementation and Progress
Mr. Michael Angmor, the General Secretary of the National Union of Seamen, Port, and Allies Workers said while the convention had come into full force, some implementation stages of the convention had already begun.
He said the implementation which included the provision of training and support to stakeholders from the GMA, in collaboration with the ILO, had shown positive results, with significant improvements in labour conditions on board vessels.
He indicated that the implementation of the ratification among other things would ensure formalised recruitment processes, and enhanced living and working conditions for fishers, particularly those above 24 meters in length; improved safety measures to prevent accidents and injuries; and access to social security protection for fishers and their families.
Compliance
Mr. Angmor noted that the committee aimed to achieve total compliance with the convention by October 2025, urging Vessel owners and operators to put measures to meet the required standards.
He further revealed that sanctions would apply to those who fail to meet the compliance deadline.
For his part, Mr. Jerome Selorm Deamesi, a Board Member of the Ghana Industrial Trawllers Association (GITA), said while the convention sought to improve the living and working conditions of fishers, it placed the employer at some form of disadvantage.
He explained that the employer in most cases was responsible for the training and certification of the employee.
He therefore urged the regulator to ensure that some measures were put in place to protect the interests of the employer as well.
Commitment
The country’s fishing industry, a crucial sector for the economy and food security, has long grappled with ensuring adequate protection for its workforce.
Ghana’s ratification of the ILO Work in Fishing Convention demonstrates its commitment to promoting decent work and protecting the rights of fishers.
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