The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) held a workshop on April 26, 2022, at the Crismon Hotel in Tema, Ghana, to validate a study on decent work in Ghanaian fisheries conducted by Dr. Vanessa Jaiteh of Nottingham University.
The research, titled ‘The Regional Initiative to Improve Fishery Safety and Working Conditions in Fisheries,’ was supported by TMT and Stella Maris with funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation and included 219 surveys administered to fishers, fish traders, and observers in 19 locations along Ghana’s coast. The main themes of the survey were structural safety, physical safety, psycho-social safety, and working conditions.
Key preliminary findings include 71% of fishers having experienced a serious accident or illness at sea; 83% of semi-/industrial fishers having never received any certified training; and 80% of fishers across all sectors (artisanal, semi-industrial, and industrial) not having a verbal or written contract with vessel owners.
During the panel discussion, fishermen described several abuses they had personally witnessed, as well as the failure of duty bearers to protect their rights. The labor law duty bearers and industrial sector actors broadened the discussion by being open about some of the implementation and enforcement challenges they faced, many of which were institutional and capacity shortcomings. It became clear that ratifying and implementing international instruments (such as the Cape Town Agreement and the International Labor Organization’s C188) and a more thorough implementation of the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) would be sufficient to address several of the issues raised.
Preliminary recommendations include organizing an annual workshop for sailors and employers; providing personal protective equipment to all fishers; making certificated capacity building programs available to sailors; establishing a union to represent fisher interests and defend their rights; expanding vessel inspections to include safety violations and labour abuses; and engaging and including fish workers in any decision-making that occurs. Meeting participants included representatives from stakeholder organizations including Centre for Maritime Law and Security (CEMLAWS), Commission on Human Rights and Justice (CHRAJ), the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Friends of the Nation (FoN), Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity (GFRA), Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA), Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana’s National Fishers Association of Ghana (NAFAG), International Labour Organization (ILO), the Ghana Navy, International Transport Federation (ITF), Maritime and Dock-Workers’ Union (MDU), University of Ghana, National Union of Seamen, Ports and Allied Workers (NUSPAW), the Norwegian Embassy, Stella Maris, and Ghana’s Trade Union Council (TUC).