Captain Georgina Jopap, a Maritime Safety and Security Consultant, urged seafarers to report harassment encountered while on duty during the 2025 International Day of the Seafarer in Accra. She highlighted the isolation and hostility of the maritime environment, where bullying from superiors or peers can create a toxic atmosphere. Although Captain Jopap, the first African woman to qualify as a Master Mariner, did not experience severe bullying herself, she noted that many colleagues were unfairly assigned dangerous tasks under the guise of toughening them up.
She emphasized the importance of understanding one’s rights onboard and encouraged seafarers, especially women, to assert themselves against bullies. Captain Jopap called for the establishment of confidential reporting channels for victims and urged the government to facilitate this process. Captain Catherine Haizel from the ITF echoed these sentiments, stressing that harassment is unacceptable and advocating for gender-balanced crews to promote comfort and collaboration.
Lawyer Francis Bebuksi advised seafarers to document instances of harassment to support their cases and seek legal redress. Meanwhile, Mr. Awudu Inusah from the Ghana Maritime Authority reminded seafarers that their vessels are both homes and workplaces, encouraging them to report any discomfort they experience.
