Ghana’s artisanal fishing sector employs over 100,000 fishers across 12,000 canoes, supplying nearly 60% of the nation’s animal protein and supporting nearly 3 million livelihoods. Yet these maritime workers operate without on-sea access to emergency medical care. When accidents occur at sea, the “travel time to shore” determines life or death. Preventable fatalities are routine.
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) launched the Sea-Life Line project, a decentralized maritime emergency medical Helpdesk that transforms fishing harbours into humanitarian hubs. The model integrates:
- 24/7 shore-based Health Helpdesks staffed by EMTs and trained “Fisher-Medics”;
- Tele-medical triage via VHF radio and mobile networks;
- GPS-enabled drone delivery of first aids including anti-venoms, tourniquets, and AEDs;
- Dedicated rescue speedboat and all-terrain vehicles for rapid evacuation; and
- Digital health passport system for pre-existing conditions.
The project is progressing in phases with the first two phases of the feasibility study and stakeholder engagement in the various fishing communities being successfully completed. Stakeholder engagement across Tema, Jamestown, Elmina, and Sekondi revealed unanimous findings: zero formal first-aid training, dangerous self-medication (petrol on wounds, expired drugs), no emergency communication beyond 10–15 nautical miles and confirmed deaths due to delayed response. Hence, the local communities overwhelmingly support the Sea-Life Line project intervention. The next phase of training focal first aiders is scheduled to begin in August, while GPHA is actively seeking funding and partnership opportunities with other institutions and agencies to facilitate the subsequent phases including acquisition of the medical drones.
Expected outcomes include a 30–40% reduction of sea-based fatalities, 25–35% fewer permanent disabilities, creation of 50–80 green maritime jobs, and direct acceleration of SDGs 3 (health), 8 (decent work), 9 (innovation), 14 (life below water), and 17 (partnerships). The estimated first-year budget is GHS 8.23 million (~USD 700,000). Once successful, Sea-Life Line offers a replicable, low-carbon, high-impact safety model for West and Central African coastal communities through the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA). Rather than a niche intervention, the project constitutes a scalable lifeline and a safety net on the open sea.