Deal allows qualified Ghanaian maritime officers to seek recognition of their certificates for service aboard Canadian-flagged vessels
Ghana and Canada have signed an agreement establishing a framework for the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates of competency, potentially expanding employment opportunities for qualified Ghanaian maritime officers aboard Canadian-flagged vessels.
The agreement was inked at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London by Kamal-Deen Ali, director-general of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), and Joanna Manger, Transport Canada’s director-general of marine safety and security, Splash Maritime Group reported.
The arrangement falls under Regulation I/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), which provides for the recognition of seafarers’ professional certificates issued by other maritime administrations.
Under the framework, qualified Ghanaian officers will be able to apply for recognition of their credentials through Canada’s certification and endorsement procedures, subject to the country’s applicable regulatory requirements.
The agreement also provides for cooperation between the two maritime administrations in verifying certificates and ensuring compliance with international standards governing maritime training and professional competency.
The development could give Ghanaian seafarers access to additional employment opportunities in Canada’s maritime sector, while strengthening cooperation between the two countries on maritime safety and professional certification.
Canada already maintains reciprocal recognition arrangements with several countries, including the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Australia and Panama.
However, recognition of foreign qualifications does not automatically authorise officers to work aboard Canadian-flagged vessels. Under Canada’s existing procedures, foreign officers must be sponsored by an authorised representative of a Canadian vessel to obtain the required endorsement.
The announcement did not specify when applications under the Ghana-Canada agreement would begin or provide details of the procedures and timeline for processing applications.
