Management

Director-General
Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali

Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali (Naval Captain Rtd) has over 26 years of experience in maritime governance, law, defense, and international relations. He brings a wealth of professional and practical experience to his role as the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority. He served in the Ghana Armed Forces for 20 years, during which he held key positions, including Director of Legal Affairs for the Ghana Navy and Director of Research at the Ghana Armed Forces Staff College. He has been instrumental in shaping maritime policy and governance at national, regional, and global levels. He variously served as an expert for enhancing Ghana’s maritime governance, including playing a key role in the drafting of the draft Maritime Offences law, the development of the National Maritime Strategy (NIMS), and the implementation plan. He also contributed to Nigeria’s National Maritime Strategy and the development of the African Maritime Charter Annexes under the African Union.

Dr. Ali has served as a technical advisor to the Global High-Level Panel on the Sustainable Oceans Economy, co-authored Blue Paper 16, and contributed to the UNECA’s Blue Economy Handbook for Africa. His expertise has been sought by multilateral organizations, including the US Department of State, UNDP, UNODC, EU, AfDB, and ECOWAS, where he has provided strategic input on maritime security and governance frameworks. Dr. Ali holds a PhD in Maritime Governance and Security from the University of Wollongong, an LLM in International Maritime Law from the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta, and a Master’s in International Affairs from the University of Ghana. He is an adjunct professor at Nelson Mandela University, a senior fellow at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, and a visiting lecturer at the International Maritime Law Institute, Malta. Dr. Ali is the author of the acclaimed book Maritime Security Cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea: Prospects and Challenges, which is recognized as a significant contribution to global maritime knowledge.

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