Stakeholders within the fishing sector have urged the government to endorse the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Fishing Labour Convention 188 (2007).

President of the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG), Nana Kweigyah, echoing the sentiments of the National Union of Teamsters and General Workers (NUTEG), emphasized that ratifying the convention is crucial to safeguarding the well-being of Ghana's fishers, who often work in substandard conditions.

Nana Kweigyah made these remarks during the distribution of life jackets to artisan fishers in Akplabanya, Ada West District, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance safety in Ghana’s artisanal fisheries.

He highlighted that the Convention aims to establish decent working conditions for fishers aboard fishing vessels, encompassing minimum requirements for work, conditions of service, accommodation, food, occupational safety, health protection, medical care, and social security.

The Convention also addresses issues such as rest periods and written work agreements, emphasizing the need for fishing vessels to be constructed and maintained to provide adequate living conditions for fishers. Nana Kweigyah emphasized that ratification implies a commitment to exerting control over fishing vessels through inspection, reporting, monitoring, complaint procedures, penalties, and corrective measures.

Acknowledging the distribution of life jackets to fishers in Shama and Apam, he urged canoe owners and fishing crews to prioritize safety, including occupational health, at sea.

He announced plans to sustain the initiative promoting life jacket use by supplying canoe owners with life jackets on a credit basis.

Nana Kweigyah appealed to the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MoFAD), and other institutions and non-governmental organizations to provide fishers with personal protective equipment, supporting the overarching goal of enhancing safety at sea.

Desmond Sackey, Secretary General of NUTEG, urged canoe owners to fulfill their duty of providing necessary protective equipment to their crews, citing Section 118 (1) of Act 651 (the Labour Act 2003), which mandates employers to ensure their employees work under satisfactory, safe, and healthy conditions.

Captain Darlington Newton Akrofi, Principal Marine Officer and Head of Search and Rescue at the Ghana Maritime Authority, provided education on safety at sea and demonstrated the proper use of life jackets to fishers.