Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe
The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has announced that the government will address one of the key challenges faced by seafarers — visa acquisition — to ensure the smooth running of their operations.
He disclosed that his ministry will liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure visas on arrival for shipowners and seafarers at the port.
Speaking to the media after touring the World Odyssey cruise ship in Accra on Monday, March 17, 2025, Nikpe stated that, “We are aware that our seafarers and some shipowners face a lot of difficulties in obtaining visas for our seafarers who wish to work outside this country.”
“It is the government’s desire to resolve this issue, and together with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, we will ensure that we support the shipowners to secure visas, either on arrival or at the port, to help our Ghanaian seafarers access decent jobs globally,” he added.
Nikpe encouraged Ghanaian youth to take advantage of the Regional Maritime University to pursue careers as seafarers in Ghana and beyond.
The MV World Odyssey, also known as a floating university, is operated by Semester at Sea.
Serving as both a traveling home and campus for students and faculty, the ship functions as a mobile college and residential facility for Semester at Sea participants.
The cruise ship can accommodate up to 650 passengers and 260 crew members.
Present at the port for the tour of the cruise ship were the Minister of Tourism, Dzifa Gomashie, and the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali.
SA/EK