GHANA SHIPPING ACT, 2003 (ACT 645)

(1) No ship shall trade in or from Ghanaian waters unless the ship (a) is a Ghanaian ship; or (b) possesses a certificate of foreign registry or similar document. (2) Subject to any treaty or agreement with any foreign Government, only Ghanaian ships may engage in local trade in Ghanaian waters. (3) A person not qualified to own a Ghanaian ship as specified in section 2 shall not engage in any charter or otherwise engage any Ghanaian ship for local trade in Ghanaian waters except in accordance with such conditions as the Board of the Ghana Maritime Authority may in writing direct. (4) A Ghanaian ship trading in any waters in Ghana and a ship trading in or from Ghanaian waters shall provide evidence of financial responsibility against risks of damage to third parties in such form as the Board of the Ghana Maritime Authority may in writing direct. (5) Where the master, owner or agent of a ship contravenes subsections (1), (2) or (4) or where any person contravenes subsection (3) the master, owner, agent or that person commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the cedi equivalent of $1 million and the ship shall be detained until the fine is paid.

(1) Despite subsection (2) of section l, a foreign ship that intends to engage in local trade from the coast of Ghana to an offshore installation located within Ghana's maritime jurisdiction may do so if the foreign ship has a permit issued by the Authority. (2) An application for a permit shall be (a) made to the Director-General; and (b) in the form specified in the Schedule. (3) An application under subsection (2) shall contain (a) the name of ship; (b) the Registry of the ship; (c) the port of registry; (d) the International Maritime Organisation Number; (e) the name and address of the registered owner; (f) the name, address, telephone, fax and e-mail contacts of the applicant's agent in Ghana; (g) the nature of the intended trade in Ghanaian waters; (h) the duration of the intended trade in Ghanaian waters; and (i) evidence that indicates the commitment of the applicant to social responsibility in relation to the training of Ghanaian seafarers and cadets. (4) The Minister may on the approval of the Board grant the permit subject to (a) conditions that the Board considers necessary in the national interest; and (b) the payment of the prescribed fee. (5) The Ghana Maritime Authority-shall publish in the Gazette the fee for a permit and may revise the fee periodically. [As inserted by the Ghana Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2011 (Act 826) s. 1]