Ghana has deployed a new cohort of maritime cadets for mandatory sea training, in a bid to address a persistent labour gap and accelerate certification for graduates seeking careers in the global shipping industry.
The Ghana Maritime Authority said the group of 20 cadets, drawn from electro-technical, marine engineering and deck disciplines, will undertake a 12-month sea service with Bahrain Ship Management. The placements are being coordinated by recruitment agency World Recruits.
The deployment marks a step forward in efforts to clear a backlog of graduates who have struggled for years to secure sea time, a mandatory requirement for professional certification under global maritime rules.
Sea service is required under the International Maritime Organization’s Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers convention, which governs qualifications for officers working on international vessels.
Some cadets in the latest cohort said they had waited up to five years for placement, underscoring structural bottlenecks in transitioning from academic training to professional qualification.
Among them is Joses Arko-Mensah, a 41-year-old electro-technical graduate from the Regional Maritime University, who completed his studies in 2025 after a prolonged academic journey. Another cadet, Kenneth Kweku Angmortey, said he had waited five years after earning a degree in marine engineering before securing the opportunity.
Speaking during an engagement with the cadets, Director-General Kamal-Deen Ali said the placements demonstrate progress in aligning training with industry needs, adding that sustained investment will be required to scale opportunities.
He pointed to the high cost of maritime training and proposed the creation of a dedicated funding model combining government support, private contributions and industry-backed financing to sustain cadet development.
Deputy Director-General Masawudu Mubarick said the initiative also reflects Ghana’s ambition to position itself as a leading supplier of maritime labour in Africa, urging cadets to maintain high professional standards.
The programme follows engagements with international partners, including Bahrain Ship Management, aimed at expanding placement opportunities for Ghanaian trainees.
The latest deployment is part of a broader push to strengthen the country’s maritime workforce, as global demand for skilled seafarers remains strong and competition among labour-supplying nations intensifies.
