MV Sankofa not linked to Ghana, GMA rejects Awuku’s claims
The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has pushed back strongly against allegations surrounding its handling of a vessel at the centre of a political controversy, insisting it acted lawfully and had no jurisdiction over the ship at the time it surfaced in a separate investigation in Senegal.
The Authority’s response follows public concerns raised by Akuapem North MP, Samuel Awuku, who has indicated his intention to formally question the agency in Parliament over the circumstances under which the vessel, MV Sankofa, was cleared from Ghanaian waters.
In a statement issued on April 22, the Maritime Authority rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing, stating that the vessel in question—MV Sankofa (IMO No. 7395870)—was not registered under Ghana’s flag at the time of its interception in Senegal and therefore had no operational link to the country.
According to the Authority, the ship has undergone multiple name and registration changes since it was first recorded in 1983. It explained that the vessel was officially removed from the Ghana Ship Registry in April 2024 after its owners completed the required deregistration procedures.
Officials also clarified that another vessel previously bearing the same name had been deregistered in 2021, stressing that maritime regulations do not permit two vessels with identical names to exist concurrently on the national register.
The vessel first came under scrutiny in July 2025, when it was intercepted within Ghana’s territorial waters by the Ghana Navy during a routine patrol and escorted to Sekondi for inspection. Crew members reportedly indicated that the vessel was undergoing sea trials following engine repairs.
Subsequent inspections uncovered a number of regulatory breaches, including deficiencies in record-keeping, violations of maritime labour standards and evidence of false flagging. Financial penalties were imposed, but investigators found no proof that the vessel had engaged in unauthorised commercial operations within Ghanaian waters.
The Authority said this limited the scope for further punitive action under existing laws.
Following partial payment of fines, completion of remedial technical work and the acquisition of provisional registration under the Cameroon flag, the vessel was released in November 2025.
In March 2026, authorities in Senegal contacted Ghana to verify the vessel’s status after it was flagged over suspected involvement in drug trafficking. The Maritime Authority said it confirmed that the ship was not Ghanaian-registered and formally distanced the country from its operations. A subsequent search by Senegalese officials reportedly found no illicit substances on board.
The Authority also raised concerns about the handling of the matter in the public domain, noting that it had already indicated its readiness to appear before Parliament to provide clarification. It expressed surprise that the issue continued to be discussed publicly rather than through formal oversight channels.
It further warned about the alleged circulation of restricted correspondence between Ghanaian and Senegalese officials, cautioning that such disclosures could undermine established protocols governing international cooperation on maritime security matters.
Mr Awuku, who has filed a Right to Information request seeking details of the vessel’s clearance, maintains that his actions fall within Parliament’s oversight mandate and has signalled his intention to pursue the matter formally.
