The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) says it has acted within the law in handling the vessel MV Sankofa, after allegations of regulatory failure were raised by the Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku.
Mr Awuku had questioned the Authority’s oversight of the vessel and suggested possible lapses in enforcement after it was later linked to suspicion of drug trafficking in Senegal. He also filed a Right to Information request seeking details on the ship’s entry, inspection, detention and penalties.
In a detailed response, the GMA rejected claims that MV Sankofa (IMO No. 7395870) was a Ghana-flagged vessel at the time of the recent incidents. It said the ship had been deregistered in April 2024 after completing formal procedures, including the surrender of its Ghanaian certificate of registry.
The Authority also clarified that an earlier vessel with a similar name had been removed from the Ghana Ship Registry in 2021, stressing that neither vessel is currently registered under the Ghana flag.
On the 2025 inspection of MV Sankofa, the GMA said the vessel was detained by the Ghana Navy and inspected jointly with its officers after being found in Ghana’s waters. It said violations of maritime labour and marine pollution laws were identified, leading to fines totalling about $79,200 and additional penalties in cedis.
The Authority added that the vessel was later released in November 2025 after partial payment of fines and completion of remedial steps, including changes to its registration status.
On reports linking the vessel to drug trafficking allegations in Senegal, the GMA said it had clarified to Senegalese authorities that the ship was not registered in Ghana and therefore not under its jurisdiction at the time. It also said no illicit substances were found on board after inspection by Senegalese officials.
The GMA expressed concern over Mr Awuku’s public commentary, saying some of the information shared risked misrepresenting official correspondence and undermining cooperation between states. It said it remained ready to appear before Parliament to clarify the matter.
Mr Awuku, in response, said the Authority had not fully addressed his questions and maintained that he would pursue the issue through formal parliamentary and legal channels. He also disputed how his withdrawn RTI request was referenced in the GMA’s statement, saying it misrepresented the sequence of events.
The Authority insists all its actions were carried out in line with national maritime laws and international standards, and says it remains committed to transparency and accountability.
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