Ghana Maritime Authority replies Sammi Awuku over MV Sankofa allegations

The management of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has raised concerns over the ongoing public commentaries and media interviews by the Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku, regarding the vessel MV Sankofa.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the authority referred to an earlier Facebook post made on April 9, 2026, in which the MP suggested he intended to raise the matter in his capacity as Vice Chair of Parliament’s Committee on Public Administration and State Interests.

In response, the GMA said it issued a statement on April 11, 2026, indicating its readiness to appear before the committee and engage transparently, should the authority be invited.

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The GMA said the vessel at the centre of the commentaries, identified as MV Sankofa with IMO No 7395870, was first registered in 1983 under the Ghana flag as a fishing trawler named MV KAAS 105.

It said the vessel was later renamed MV AFKO 312 in 1987 and subsequently MV Marine 711 in 2011.

According to the GMA, the owners of the vessel applied for deregistration in 2024, and after completing all mandatory processes, including the surrender of its Certificate of Ghanaian Registry, the ship was officially removed from the Ghana Ship Registry on April 23, 2024.

The authority also noted that another vessel previously named MV Sankofa with IMO No 907855 had earlier been registered under the Ghanaian flag in 2014, but was later deregistered on October 6, 2021, after all regulatory requirements were met.

“The Authority wishes to make it abundantly clear that neither the vessel with IMO No 7395870 nor the vessel with IMO No 907855 is currently on Ghana’s ship register, and therefore none of the two vessels can be described as Ghanaian-flagged vessels.

“It must further be emphasised that under Ghana’s vessel registration protocols, no two ships are permitted to carry the same name while they remain on the national register, making claims to the contrary inaccurate and misleading,” the statement said.

The GMA disclosed that the vessel was sighted by the Ghana Navy on July 18, 2025, within Ghana’s territorial waters during a routine patrol.

It added the crew informed naval officers that the ship was conducting sea trials after repairs to its engine, but the vessel was later escorted to the Sekondi Naval Base for further checks.

Subsequent inspections by the Ghana Navy and the GMA, the authority said, revealed breaches of Ghana’s maritime labour regulations and the Marine Pollution Act, 2016 (Act 932), including failure to maintain required record books and evidence of false flagging.

As a result, the vessel was fined $79,200 for marine pollution breaches, GH¢154,800 for labour regulation violations and GH¢30,000 for false flagging.

The GMA explained that although there were initial suspicions the vessel may have carried cargo or engaged in commercial activities between Ghanaian ports, investigations did not establish such violations.

“Because no evidence was found to support claims that the vessel traded commercially between Ghana’s ports, the Authority could not lawfully impose the separate sanction which carries a maximum penalty of one million dollars,” the statement explained.

The GMA added that after the vessel undertook technical remedial measures, secured a provisional certificate of registry from Cameroon and paid part of the fines under a structured payment plan, it was released in November 2025.

It added that on March 23, 2026, Senegalese authorities contacted Ghana to verify the registration status of the vessel after suspecting its involvement in illicit narcotics trafficking within their waters.

“The Ghana Maritime Authority responded promptly and officially informed the Senegalese authorities that the vessel was not registered in Ghana, while clearly disassociating the Republic of Ghana from all activities involving the said vessel,” it stated.

The Ghana Maritime Authority statement further said Senegal later confirmed that no illicit drugs were found after the vessel was boarded and searched, adding that the ship possessed electronic documents showing registration under the Cameroonian flag.

According to the GMA, since the vessel had already been released in November 2025, its current presence in Senegalese waters has no connection to Ghana.

Touching on the conduct of the MP, the authority accused him of abandoning the formal parliamentary route after initially indicating he would pursue the matter through oversight channels.

“It came as a surprise that after suggesting a parliamentary process, the Honourable Member abandoned that formal avenue and rather chose media engagements that sought to misinform the public and cast unnecessary aspersions on the Authority’s regulatory integrity,” the statement said.

The GMA also disclosed that Sammi Awuku initially submitted a Right to Information request which he later withdrew, before another request was subsequently submitted.

It said despite the circumstances, it would respond in accordance with the law.

The authority further described as troubling the publication of confidential communications between Senegalese authorities and Ghanaian law enforcement agencies, saying such actions could undermine trust and established protocols of international security cooperation.

The GMA assured the public that all its activities, including vessel registration, inspections, monitoring and enforcement, are carried out in strict compliance with Ghanaian laws and international maritime standards.

The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to regulating the maritime industry in the national interest and pledged to uphold the highest standards of integrity in the discharge of its mandate.

SO/AE

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