GMA Pledges Total Inclusion for Women, Vows to Dismantle Barriers in Maritime Sector
According to Dr Ali, the GMA’s efforts to enhance seafaring through cadet placement are designed to ensure that female cadets gain the necessary capacity to progress in their careers at sea.
Speaking during a courtesy call by a delegation from the Seawomen’s Hub, Dr Ali highlighted the GMA’s renewed efforts to drive systemic change.
These initiatives include aggressively pushing for seatime placements for cadets, establishing a direct channel to address their unique workplace concerns, and institutionalizing career orientation and guidance sessions to prepare them for the psychological and professional demands of life at sea.
The Seawomen’s Hub
The delegation was led by Esther Yayera Avorkliya, a Third Officer, who currently serves on a Royal Caribbean Cruise vessel.
She was joined by Maame Ama Asamoah Gurabah, a Marine Engineering Cadet ready for seatime placement, and Dahlia Essoh, a final-year Nautical Science student at the Regional Maritime University (RMU). The visit by the trio was aimed to bridge the mentorship gap for women in the industry.
Ms Avorkliya, the founder of the Seawomen’s Hub, explained that she created the community to serve as a mentorship center for young women. 
She highlighted a critical shortage of female mentors, noting that even when mentors are found, the nature of the job and shifting time zones make consistent professional guidance nearly impossible.
Having worked as a seafarer for two years after acquiring her Certificate of Competence (CoC), Ms. Avorkliya noted that a lack of early guidance led her to struggle with imposter syndrome, casting doubt on her competency to navigate a ship.
“While studying for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Engineering at the RMU, only seven out of 107 students were girls”, she said.
In the same vein, Ms Avorkliya pointed out that opportunities for mandatory seatime, the major pathway toward a sea career were also limited to the few females who braved the odds.
“It is for this reason that the Seawomen’s Hub is building a community to ensure no young woman feels isolated. We want the GMA to amplify our voices and lead the advocacy for seatime opportunities, which often seem more readily available for our male counterparts”, Ms Avorkliya appeal.
Challenging the Status Quo
Aspiring seafarers Maame Ama Asamoah Gurabah and Dahlia Essoh shared their experiences during the meeting, recounting their decision to choose maritime education over traditional paths like medicine in search of a greater challenge.
However, Ms Gurabah noted the frustration of the recruitment process, where some companies express preference for female talents but ultimately hire a higher ratio of males. 
“We want to break down stereotypes. The Hub is currently partnering with NGOs to reach girls in Junior High Schools to mentor and guide them about maritime careers,” Ms. Gurabah said.
Seatime Advocacy and Policy
In reaffirming the GMA’s commitment, the Director General announced a quarterly support package for the Hub to ensure the sustainability of its advocacy efforts. This support is intended to help the Hub build a robust database of young women requiring mentorship and to identify specific barriers that the Authority can dismantle through policy.
Dr Ali urged the Hub to continue its outreach, stating that the GMA aims to create a community where “connections provide opportunities for all.” He also challenged the group to seek out international foundations that align with their mission.
The Deputy Director General of the GMA, Mubarick Masawudu, added that the Authority, under the newly developed National Seafarer Development and Promotion Policy, is also developing a robust Information Technology system.
This digital framework, he said is designed to streamline Certificate of Competence (CoC) processing, provide real-time seatime tracking for cadets, and create a direct digital link for seafarers to report grievances or seek assistance from the Authority while at sea.
The Director of the Maritime Services Division (MSD), Madam Janet Houghman-Addy, pointed out that the Authority is retooling its approach with plans to roll out a dedicated mentorship program to groom cadets and seafarers before they join global fleets.
