US visa reversal relief to seafarers — Maritime Authority DG
The Director-General (DG) of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Captain Ali Kamal-Deen (rtd), has lauded the government for securing the reversal of the US visa policy, which has threatened the maritime industry in the last three months.
He recounted that the US visa restriction nearly brought the maritime industry to its knees, as many Ghanaian seafarers could not secure employment due to the inability to obtain a US visa.
‘’This US visa restriction nearly brought our maritime industry to a halt. Ghana is among the top four or five countries in the world that, when seeking seafarers, you turn to.
“Yet, any seafarer who cannot have a US visa is unlikely to get employment, not because you need a visa to go to the US, as we all do, but because ships will necessarily fall on the US port during the year, visa restrictions were affecting them,” he said.
In July this year, the US revised its visa policy on Ghana and imposed a three-month single-entry visa on Ghana.
This was a downward revision from a five-year multiple-entry visa; however, the US government has reversed its decision on Ghana and returned it to the five-year multiple-entry visa.
The DG of the GMA was speaking to a delegation from the Ministry of Transport led by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, who visited the GMA on a familiarisation tour in Accra.
Brazil's seafarer card restrictions
Captain Kamal-Deen (rtd) also called for the ministry’s intervention to resolve a similar restriction imposed by Brazil.
In Brazil, he explained that seafarers were required to have a specific card, which allowed them into Brazil, which Ghanaian seafarers were struggling to obtain.
According to him, this may likely result in Brazilian authorities "blacklisting" Ghanaian seafarers if not addressed, making it challenging for them to secure employment on cruise ships that frequently visit Brazilian ports.
“We also have a seafarer card restriction in Brazil. If you don't have the adequate entry requirements for seafarers, it's a challenge.
We've also written to the ministry on the Brazil issue, and we hope Brazil will be engaged so they can give us a waiver.
“We are trying to move to a chip so that our seafarers will have a chip rather than a coupon, and that process is going to take some time; and currently Brazil is implementing their requirements for that, and because of that they are blacklisting our seafarers,” he stated.
Support
For her part, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, assured the GMA of the ministry’s support in discharging their mandate and its efforts to enhance the maritime sector.
She also commended the authority for its hard work and ongoing projects.
The deputy minister acknowledged the challenges faced by the GMA, including the recent visa restrictions imposed by the US and Brazil, which have affected Ghanaian seafarers and assured the authority of her support in addressing these challenges and promoting the growth of the seafaring industry in Ghana.
