Ghana becomes 22nd ILO member-state to ratify Convention 188: Summary

Ghana, Accra fishing port, 2023-02-19. The beach where the fishing port is located is littered with old clothes. Hundreds of tons of used clothes from industrialized countries arrive every week in Accra, capital of Ghana. Some of it is sorted and reused, but a significant part of it is too worn out to be worn and ends up in the Agbogbloshie dump and in the ocean. Photograph by Jean-Francois Fort / Hans Lucas. Ghana, port de peche d Accra, 2023-02-19. La plage qui accueille le port de peche est jonchee de vieux vetements hors d usage. Des centaines de tonnes de vetements usages venus des pays industrialises arrivent chaque semaines a Accra, capitale du Ghana. Une partie est triee et reutilisee, mais une autre partie non negligeable est trop usee pour etre portee, elle finit dans la decharge d Agbogbloshie et dans l Ocean. Photographie de Jean-Francois Fort / Hans Lucas.No Use France.

Source: X07244

What we know

Ghana has ratified the International Labour Organisation Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188). This makes it the 22^nd member State of the ILO to ratify the convention.
The ILO Convention 188 aims at improving the rights and working conditions of fishers by ensuring safer environments within the fishing industry.
It also seeks to ensure that minimum requirements for work on board, condition of service, accommodation and food, occupational safety and health protection, medical care and social security are provided for fishers.
The modern and flexible regulatory framework provided by the convention covers both large fishing operations and small-scale fishery.
The ILO Convention 188 came into force on November 16, 2017, but implementation will begin on August 28, 2025.

What they said

Director of the Ghana Maritime Authority expressed excitement about the move, indicating the significant change it will bring for fishers in Ghana. "Ghana is proud to announce that we have ratified ILO Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188). Prior to the ratification, we have been taking proactive steps to apply the Convention,” Nana Kwabena Boakye-Boampong was quoted. “This ratification cements our commitment to promoting decent work in the fishing sector, including the elimination of forced labour. It also provides us with international recognition for our significant efforts to protect and promote sustainability in the fishing sector," he added.

Wonder Hagan