Empowering Women in the Maritime Sector for a Sustainable Blue Economy
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of women’s roles in shaping the future of the maritime sector. Ms Dorcas Affo-Toffey, Deputy Minister of Transport in Ghana, emphasized that empowering women within this industry is crucial for unlocking the full potential of Ghana’s Blue Economy and ensuring sustainable maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Gulf of Guinea, often referred to as “the heartbeat of West Africa’s maritime economy,” plays a vital role in supporting global trade, energy supply, and food security. This significance was highlighted during the opening ceremony of the Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA) Regional Conference in Accra, which focused on the theme: “Advancing Women’s Leadership in Maritime Security and Governance in the Gulf of Guinea.”
Participants at the conference engaged in discussions centered around women’s leadership in law enforcement, co-designing mentorship frameworks, and developing a Regional Action Plan for Gender-Inclusive Maritime Leadership and Workplace Safety. These initiatives aim to address the challenges faced by women in the maritime sector and create a more inclusive environment.
Ms Affo-Toffey pointed out that escalating threats such as piracy, human trafficking, illegal fishing, and marine pollution continue to undermine the region’s economic growth and environmental stability. She stressed that these challenges cannot be effectively addressed without the full participation of women at every level of maritime governance.
Ghana has shown a commitment to gender mainstreaming in maritime security. This includes expanding women’s representation in naval, coast guard, and port operations, improving working conditions, and integrating gender perspectives into security frameworks such as the ISPS Code. The Deputy Minister also commended the collaborative efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security Programme for supporting gender-responsive reforms in the sector.
“This is about institutional transformation. By strengthening platforms like WIMOWCA and empowering women in law enforcement and maritime security, we are safeguarding not only our oceans but our collective future,” she said.
Achieving a resilient and inclusive Blue Economy requires intentional leadership that values ethics, equity, and empowerment across all levels of maritime governance. Madam Sylvia Dauda Asana-Owu, President of WIMOWCA, reiterated that despite women’s growing participation in ports, logistics, and coastal economies, they remain severely underrepresented in leadership positions across the maritime sector.
“Globally, women account for less than one per cent of senior maritime executives and just about two per cent of seafarers. When women are part of maritime governance, we see stronger institutions, more transparent systems, and greater sustainability,” she said.
Madam Asana-Owu urged governments, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to adopt gender-sensitive governance frameworks, expand access to scholarships and leadership training for women, and strengthen professional networks such as WIMOWCA, WOMESA, and WISTA. She emphasized that women must not only be visible but also influential, shaping strategies, commanding operations, and driving innovation.
WIMOWCA now operates in 14 countries across West and Central Africa, providing mentorship, capacity-building, and policy advocacy to empower women in maritime professions. The organization continues to play a critical role in promoting gender equality and fostering a more inclusive maritime sector.