Debate on a draft legislation that seeks to replace the existing Merchant Shipping Act, 1963 (Act 183) began on Wednesday. The legislation, known as the "Ghana Shipping Bill", intends to bring the law governing maritime activity in Ghana into conformity with the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) conventions on maritime operations.

The existing Merchant Shipping Act was based on the English Merchant Shipping Act of 1894. Agyeman Manu, Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport, who moved for the second reading of the bill, said the bill incorporates international maritime conventions.

They are the Safety of life at Sea Convention, the Load Line Convention, and Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Conventions, the Mortgages and Lines Conventions, Salvage Convention, the Tonnage Measurement Convention and the International Convention of Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers.

He said the bill makes adequate provisions for the regulation of inland waterways in Ghana. Manu said responsibility for the establishment of navigational aids would rest with the Ghana Maritime Authority if the bill is passed.

The function is now exercised by the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority, but since the issue of safety of navigation should be the responsibility of the maritime administration, the bill transfers this function accordingly.

Abraham Ossei Aidoo, Deputy Majority Leader, said the bill would help address the problems of seafarers, especially, abandoned seamen. According to him, lawyers would no longer conduct endless research for legal arguments and decisions on maritime issues since the bill would have compressed all relevant laws into one document. Mike Hammah, NDC-Efutu, called for the withdrawal of the bill since it should be part of a comprehensive transport policy, which is yet to be drawn up.