The Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Public Administration and State Interest, Sammi Awuku, has launched a formal inquiry into the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) following reports that a vessel previously detained in Ghanaian waters has been intercepted in Senegal for alleged drug trafficking.
Mr Awuku, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, expressed grave concerns regarding the oversight and regulatory conduct of the GMA.
He suggested that the Authority’s handling of the vessel, identified as M/V Sankofa, may have inadvertently allowed Ghana to be associated with the resurgence of the international illicit drug trade.
According to the legislator, the M/V Sankofa was arrested by the GMA in July 2025 during the administration of President John Mahama for extensive regulatory breaches. At the time of its initial arrest, the ship was reportedly flying the flag of São Tomé.
Despite the severity of its non-compliance, Mr Awuku alleges there is no official record indicating how, or if, the legally prescribed sanctions were applied before the vessel was permitted to leave Ghanaian jurisdiction.
The situation has taken a diplomatic turn following the vessel’s subsequent arrest in Senegal. Reports indicate that the ship was detained by Senegalese authorities on suspicion of transporting illicit drugs shortly after departing from Ghana.
Mr Awuku claims to have sighted email correspondence between the two nations in which the GMA denied that the vessel was registered in Ghana, despite the ship allegedly flying the Ghanaian flag at the time of its seizure in Senegal.
The Ghana Maritime Authority is the statutory body mandated to regulate national waters, ensure shipping safety, and protect the marine environment. Its duties include the rigorous inspection and registration of ships, as well as the imposition of fines on non-compliant vessels. Mr Awuku argued that the circumstances surrounding the M/V Sankofa suggest a worrying lapse in these responsibilities.
In a move to ensure accountability and safeguard the national interest, the MP has confirmed he is filing a formal Request for Information.
The inquiry seeks to establish the exact dates of the vessel’s entry and departure, the specific nature of its regulatory breaches, and whether any fines were actually paid into the state coffers.
Mr Awuku emphasised that the Ghanaian public deserves to know if any individuals or entities were prosecuted following the initial arrest in 2025. He maintained that demanding these answers is a necessary step in protecting the reputation of
“Mother Ghana” and ensuring that state institutions remain committed to their mandate.
The Ghana Maritime Authority is yet to issue a formal response to the allegations or the impending parliamentary inquiry.
Below is his his full statement
As Vice Chairman for Parliament’s Committee on Public Administration and State Interest, I intend to perform my duties with the aim of assisting these State Institutions in delivering on their mandate and remaining committed to serving the Nation. Today I will be asking the right questions and will demand the right answers from those expected to perform their duties in the interest of Mother Ghana. This will be followed by an official request from the Ghana Maritime Authority.
In the past, Ghana has suffered from allegations of being a haven for international illicit drug trade. Unfortunately there is cause for concern that these allegations may be resurfacing sooner than later.
I have come across worrying information of an alleged complicity in the oversight responsibility of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA).
GMA is Ghana’s statutory competent agency responsible for regulating Ghana’s maritime waters to ensure the safety and security of shipping and the protection of the marine environment against ship generated pollution.
In the exercise of this function, GMA is to inspect ships within Ghana’s waters to ensure they comply with all international and local shipping regulations. Their function also includes the registration of ships.
GMA is to fine ships that are found to be non compliant with the relevant regulations. GMA is also to take necessary measures to get non compliant ships to remedy all identified deficiencies.
Under the watch of President John Mahama, In July 2025, a Vessel M/V Sankofa was in the waters of Ghana. That vessel was arrested by GMA for breaching almost all regulatory prescriptions. At the time of her arrest, the vessel was flying under the flag of São Tomé. However, without any official records of how the GMA applied the sanctions prescribed by law for such breaches, the vessel was allowed to sail out of Ghana.
In an interesting twist, this same vessel has been arrested in Senegal for allegedly transporting illicit drugs after it sailed from the shores of Ghana .
In email correspondence between Senegal and Ghana, that I have sighted, GMA denied that the vessel, despite flying under the flag of Ghana, is not registered in Ghana.
In my capacity as a member of Parliament for the good people of Akuapem North and Vice Chairman for Parliament’s Committee on Public Administration and State Interest I will be filing a Request for Information to the GMA for answers to the following questions:
A. Vessel Entry and Identification
- On what date did M/V Sankofa enter Ghana’s territorial waters?
- What was the first port of call/docking for the vessel in Ghana?
- Under which national flag did M/V Sankofa enter Ghana?
- Under which national flag did M/V Sankofa depart Ghana?
- On what date did M/V Sankofa depart Ghana’s territorial waters?
B. Arrest and Enforcement Actions
- Was M/V Sankofa ever arrested or detained by the GMA?
- If yes, on what date was the vessel arrested or detained?
- What were the specific regulatory breaches that formed the basis for the arrest?
C. Sanctions, Prosecution, and Compliance
- Was any individual or entity prosecuted following the arrest?
- Were any sanctions imposed on the vessel or its operators?
- Did the vessel or its operators pay any fines or penalties to the State?
- If yes, on what date was the fine or penalty paid?
- What was the total amount paid as fines or penalties?
I believe with the right answers we can proceed to the next set of issues surrounding this violation of our laws .
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
