Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) and the National Union of Seamen, Port and Allied Workers (NUSPAW) have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at improving wages, working conditions, and labour rights within the industrial fishing sector.
The agreement, signed in Accra is a product of about eight years of stakeholder engagements under the leadership of the Ghana Maritime Authority’s (GMA) Tripartite Committee on Work in Fishing.
The one-year MoU applies to all industrial trawl vessel owners, operators, and agents under GITA’s purview and key highlights of the agreement include a 75percent increase in basic salaries, an upward adjustment in catch bonuses, and the mandatory payment of wages through traceable bank
In an address, President of GITA, Steve Adzokatse, described the MoU as a “bold declaration” of the industry’s collective will to uplift the dignity and welfare of fishers.
“This MOU is not just a wage agreement—it is a framework for fairness, transparency, and human dignity,” he said.
Mr. Adzokatse applauded NUSPAW’s leadership for their constructive role in the negotiations and commended GITA member companies for their readiness to prioritise sustainability over exploitation.
He also underscored the importance of the GMA-led Tripartite Committee, saying “their dedication to implementing the International Labour Organisation, Work in Fishing Convention (C188) has placed Ghana at the forefront of global best practices…we must build on this foundation to ensure insurance cover for fishers, improved grievance systems, gender inclusivity, and safer working environments”
He also revealed that through its subsidiary, GITA Recruitment Ltd have begun standardising recruitment practices to ensure transparency, fairness, and the elimination of abusive practices, while investing in training for both crew and vessel owners.
General Secretary of NUSPAW, Michael Angmor, said the agreement is the “beginning of a long but necessary journey” toward labour justice for fishers in the country.
Tracing the journey back to 2017, he explained that although there were delays “Today no fisher works on a trawler without a contract, thanks to this process”.
He highlighted key transformations over the years, including a rise in wages—from GH¢500 to GHȼ3,200 by November 2022 and now GH¢3,800 monthly from April 2025—and improved living conditions onboard, where fishers now sleep in ventilated cabins with mattresses and pillows, instead of cardboard boxes.
“We now have representation, and today’s MoU is a product of that social dialogue,” he added.
Mr. Angmor thanked the ILO, GMA, Fisheries Commission, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, and other partners for supporting NUSPAW’s efforts.
In his address, Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali noted that “This is not just a ceremonial signing. It is a reflection of Ghana’s commitment to maritime labour standards and a step toward ensuring fishers work under safe, fair, and humane conditions”.
Dr. Ali pointed out that the MoU aligns with Ghana’s obligations under the ILO Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (C188), which the country ratified.
He lauded both GITA and NUSPAW for demonstrating mutual commitment through dialogue, adding that the agreement would serve as a reference point for future collective bargaining efforts.
He pledged GMA’s continued collaboration with stakeholders including the Fisheries Commission, Labour Department, and the ILO to ensure effective implementation of the MoU.
“This historic milestone must be the beginning of sustained progress,” he stressed, adding that GMA will monitor the MoU’s impact and continue developing frameworks to improve labour standards in the fishing sector.
