The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has signed a new four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to strengthen regional maritime collaboration and safety in the Gulf of Guinea.
The agreement, signed on July 1, 2026, at the NIMASA Towers in Victoria Island, Lagos, signaled a renewed commitment to regional maritime cooperation.
The Director General of GMA, Dr Kamal- Deen Ali (Naval Capt Rtd) and the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, signed on behalf of their respective institutions.
In a statement, the GMA said the partnership focuses on key areas of mutual growth, including “the mutual recognition of Certificates of Competency to streamline seafarer training and employment and joint maritime security operations to combat piracy, armed robbery and terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea.”
It indicated that the MoU would see the two regulatory bodies collaborate on enhanced cabotage enforcement and institutional capacity building through expert exchanges, joint research and technical conferences.
Director General of the GMA, Dr. Kamal- Deen Ali, emphasized the regional impact of the pact, noting that what GMA learns from NIMASA will help build the broader regional economy, especially given that Nigeria handles over 60 percent of vessel traffic in the Gulf of Guinea.
“To ensure seamless execution, a Joint Consultative Team led by designated focal persons would meet bi-annually, alternating between Accra and Lagos, to drive implementation,” he noted.
