The Deputy Director-General – Technical Operations at the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Daniel Appianin, has stated that the implementation of the cabotage regulations – laws that protect the domestic shipping industry from foreign competition, preserve domestically-owned shipping infrastructure for national security purposes, and ensure safety in congested territorial waters – is not merely a policy change but a testament to industry’s commitment to building a thriving, sustainable and secure maritime future for the country.
“To achieve this objective, we must unite in this endeavour, embracing innovation, fostering partnerships and working hand in hand to steer our maritime sector to new heights as together, we can build a legacy of prosperity for future generations,” he said.
He explained that the definition of cabotage differs from country to country. In Ghana, cabotage means local trade for the carriage of cargo from one place to another, including lakes and inland waterways within the country’s maritime jurisdiction.
Mr. Appianin was speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement on cabotage in Takoradi, which was attended by government agencies, industry experts, shipping operators, vessel owners, maritime legal practitioners and environmental advocates, among others.
Discussions at the workshop touched on the fundamental tenets of the cabotage regulations, enhancing maritime skills and workforce development, and insight on implementation strategies and procedures.
He explained that the Ghana Shipping (Cabotage) Regulation, 2021 (L. I. 2438) was gazetted on 16th December, 2021 and subsequently entered into force on 24th February, 2022.
The primary objective of the regulation, he said, is to reserve commercial transportation of goods, passengers and services within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction for Ghanaians and indigenous companies.
Currently, he said cabotage regulations are practised in 91 countries. “Cabotage laws are enacted and enforced in several coastal nations owing to its inherent importance. Countries – such as the United States with the Jones Act, Australia with the Coastal Trading Act, China, Brazil, India and our very own neighbour, the Federal Republic of Nigeria to name a few – practise cabotage due to the benefits it presents.”
He explained that the objective of the cabotage is to boost domestic shipping industry, leading to growth in related sectors such as insurance, shipping and financing, among others. Also, it is to increase job opportunities for domestic seafarers, improve local shipping capacity, enhance competitiveness in international trade as well as strengthening maritime security and control.
Mr. Appianim noted that Ghana’s maritime industry has faced various obstacles, such as deficits in infrastructure and policies that do not align with the sector’s interests.
Therefore, he said the introduction of the cabotage regulations is a visionary approach to addressing these challenges head-on.
“By reserving the commercial transportation of goods and services within Ghana’s coastal and inland waters to vessels flying the flag of Ghana or owned by Ghanaians, we take a momentous step toward achieving several critical objectives,” he added.
Explaining further, he said successful implementation of the regulations will require collective efforts, dedication and perseverance of all stakeholders as well as from the government, maritime industry and civil society.
“We, at the Ghana Maritime Authority, shall continue to safeguard the nation’s maritime interests in accordance with our statutory mandate. We are resolute in our commitment to ensure that the Ghana shipping cabotage regulation is effectively implemented for the benefit of our country and its citizens,” he said.
“With unwavering optimism, we anticipate that the Cabotage Regime will yield far-reaching benefits for our nation and its maritime sector. It will usher in a plethora of job opportunities and provide essential training to countless Ghanaian seafarers,” said Nana Kwabena Boakye-Boapong, Director, Maritime Services Division.
