Maritime Pollution Bill underway

Concerned about the environmental hazards on our waterways, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has taken a bold initiative to formulate a Maritime Pollution Bill to address the issue. The Bill that was finalized for consideration by the Government is being updated to include laws relating to new developments such as the oil and gas projects, including the new conventions recently adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The Bill, if it becomes an Act would give the Authority the needed legal power to deal effectively with problems that may arise in the implementation of the oil and gas projects in the country. In addition to the Bill, a draft legislation on inland waterways based on the IMO is currently being finalized by the Authority for passage by Parliament. This draft legislation aims to create a regulatory framework for the enforcement of safety measures on the inland waterways of the country. This was disclosed in Accra by Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways at the celebration of the World Maritime Day by the GMA. The World Maritime Day which is celebrated by the International Maritime Community seeks to bring to the attention of the general public the challenges of the maritime industry and achievements realized through international trade. The theme for this year's celebration is “IMO, 60 years in Shipping Service”. The formulation of new policies by the Authority is to position itself to meet the challenges of the future, so as to make it competitive on the international market. The Authority, in collaboration with the Regional Maritime University has also instituted training programmes for seafarers to be trained on the basis of the IMO courses, and in accordance with relevant International Conventions, such as the IMO International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for seafarers (STCW). The Chief Advisor to President Kufuor, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse, in her address urged the GMA to quickly submit the draft legal instruments and sanction regimes to enable Government introduce sanity in the shipping industry. Her concern stemmed from the fact that some players in the shipping industry were abusing the system by introducing unjustifiable charges on exporters and importers. “This trend, I must say is adversely affecting Government efforts aimed at making Ghana an investment destination in the sub-region”, she noted. She assured the Authority of government's continuous support in its quest to make the industry more effective.