Ghana and Canada have signed a maritime agreement on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates, a move aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries and expanding international employment opportunities for qualified Ghanaian seafarers.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London. It establishes a framework for the recognition of professional certificates held by seafarers from both countries.
The agreement is expected to make it easier for qualified Ghanaian seafarers to have their professional credentials recognised in Canada, potentially improving their access to employment opportunities in the Canadian maritime sector. It also creates an avenue for closer cooperation between the two countries in recognising maritime qualifications.
Under the arrangement, the two countries will recognise certificates of competency issued by their respective maritime administrations, in accordance with Regulation I/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended. The convention provides an international framework for recognising seafarers’ professional qualifications between maritime administrations.
The agreement was signed on November 5, 2026, by the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Capt. (Rtd.) Dr Kamal-Deen Ali, on behalf of Ghana, and Joanna Manger, Director-General of Marine Safety and Security at Transport Canada, representing the Canadian government.
ALSO READ: Uganda Airlines Launches Flights to Ghana, Opening New Air Link Between West and East Africa
Beyond facilitating employment opportunities, the MoU provides for cooperation between the Ghana Maritime Authority and Transport Canada in verifying the authenticity of certificates and maintaining internationally accepted standards for maritime education, training and professional competence.
For Ghanaian seafarers, the agreement offers a potential route to employment aboard Canadian-flagged vessels and within Canada’s wider maritime industry. However, recognition of their qualifications will remain subject to Canada’s applicable certification and endorsement requirements. The agreement does not automatically guarantee employment or authorise every certificate holder to work in Canada.
The signing adds Canada to Ghana’s international maritime cooperation efforts and creates another avenue for qualified Ghanaian maritime professionals to pursue opportunities beyond the country’s borders. Details on when the new recognition arrangements will become operational have not yet been specified in the published announcements.
