By Buertey Francis BORYOR
The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has expanded its operational presence by nearly 70 percent over the past year as part of efforts to strengthen regulation, improve safety standards and enhance oversight of inland water transport across the country.
Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, said the expansion forms part of a broader strategy to deepen the authority’s presence in critical inland water and coastal communities while improving service delivery and enforcement of maritime safety regulations.
Speaking at the inauguration of 200 Inland Water Safety Guards and launch of the Life-Jacket for Safety and Livelihood Initiative in Accra, he said the authority is moving beyond traditional coastal operations to establish a stronger presence in inland communities where water transport plays a critical role in economic activity.
According to him, the authority has already established an Inland Water Safety Regulatory Office in Akosombo and is opening additional offices at Kete Krachi, Bamboi, Saboba, Wa, Agona, Ngalichie and Shama, adding that plans are underway to establish offices along the eastern border corridor from Ada to the border with Togo.
“Our expansion in terms of locations has gone almost 70 percent beyond what we met when we assumed office,” Dr. Ali said.
He noted that the authority’s expansion programme is intended to improve monitoring, enforcement and stakeholder engagement in areas where inland waterways serve as major transportation routes for people and goods.
As part of the initiative, GMA has identified 125 crossing points across 11 regions and deployed 200 trained Inland Water Safety Guards to support enforcement of safety standards and reduce accidents on inland waterways.
The deployment forms part of a broader effort to strengthen safety management on rivers, lakes and other inland water-bodies that support transportation, commerce and livelihoods in many communities.
Dr. Ali said the authority is also rolling out a large-scale life-jacket programme involving 20,000 life-jackets to improve accessibility and encourage compliance with safety requirements. Under the programme, life-jackets will be made available through subsidised sales and rental arrangements to ensure affordability for regular users of inland water transport services.
He lamented that preventable accidents continue to occur due to overloading, adverse weather conditions and the failure of some passengers to wear life-jackets even when they are available. He further noted that the safety guards have undergone rigorous training and will be responsible for ensuring that boats do not depart without passengers complying with life-jacket requirements.
The Director-General stressed that this initiative represents a shift from simply responding to accidents to proactively preventing them through stronger regulation, community engagement and enforcement.
He further urged boat operators to view the safety guards as partners in promoting safety rather than obstacles to their operations.
The expansion programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, local assemblies, traditional authorities and the Ghana Navy, which supported the safety guards’ training.
Dr. Ali said GMA remains committed to building a safer and more efficient inland water transport system capable of supporting economic activity while protecting lives and livelihoods in communities across the country.
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