The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has strongly pushed back against public commentary by the Member of Parliament for Akwapim North, Sammi Awuku, over the vessel MV Sankofa (IMO No. 7395870), accusing him of misinformation, procedural breaches and the unauthorised circulation of restricted security communications.
In a statement dated 22 April 2026, the Authority said it had taken note of repeated media engagements and public remarks by the MP, alongside a Right to Information (RTI) request that has been widely circulated on social media.
The GMA said it had earlier indicated its readiness to appear before Parliament’s Public Administration and State Interests Committee following Awuku’s Facebook post on 9 April 2026 but expressed concern that the matter has since been pursued largely through media platforms rather than formal parliamentary engagement.
According to the Authority, MV Sankofa (IMO No. 7395870) has undergone several identity changes over the years. It was first registered in 1983 under the Ghanaian flag as MV KAAS 105, later re-registered as MV AFKO 312 in 1987, and then MV Marine 711 in 2011.
The GMA explained that in 2024, the owners applied for deregistration, and after completing the required procedures, including the surrender of its Certificate of Ghanaian Registry, the vessel was officially removed from the Ghana Ship Registry on 23 April 2024.
It also referenced a separate vessel, MV Sankofa (IMO No. 907855), which was registered in 2014 and later deregistered on 6 October 2021. The Authority stressed that neither vessel is currently on Ghana’s register and, therefore, neither is Ghanaian-flagged. It further noted that under maritime protocol, no two vessels can bear the same name while on the national register.
The Authority further detailed that MV Sankofa (IMO No. 7395870) was intercepted on 18 July 2025 by the Ghana Navy during patrols in Ghana’s territorial waters. The crew reportedly indicated the vessel was undergoing sea trials following engine repairs, but subsequent inspections led to its escort to the Sekondi Naval Base.
Joint inspections by the Ghana Navy and the GMA uncovered breaches of maritime labour regulations and the Marine Pollution Act, 2016 (Act 932), including missing record books and evidence of false flagging. The Authority imposed fines of $79,200 for marine pollution violations, GH¢154,800 for labour infractions, and GH¢30,000 for false flagging.
Although initial suspicions suggested possible commercial activity between Ghanaian ports, further inspections ruled this out, meaning a higher penalty that could have reached $1 million was not applied. Following remedial actions, including the acquisition of a provisional Cameroonian certificate of registry and partial settlement of fines under an agreed payment plan, the vessel was released in November 2025.
The GMA also addressed reports that the vessel was intercepted in Senegalese waters on 23 March 2026 over suspected narcotics trafficking. It said Senegalese authorities contacted Ghana for verification, and Ghana promptly clarified that the vessel is not registered in Ghana and that the country has no link to its current operations.
Senegalese authorities later confirmed that no illicit drugs were found on board and indicated that the vessel carried electronic documentation showing registration under the Cameroonian flag. The Authority added that since its release in November 2025, the vessel’s operations fall outside Ghana’s jurisdiction.
The GMA expressed concern over what it described as inconsistent conduct by Awuku, arguing that while the matter was initially presented as parliamentary oversight, it was later pursued through media commentary instead of formal parliamentary channels, despite the Authority’s readiness to engage the relevant committee.
It also raised concerns over the circulation of official correspondence between Ghanaian and Senegalese authorities, describing it as restricted security communication that should not have entered the public domain. According to the GMA, the disclosure risks undermining international law enforcement cooperation and breaching established diplomatic protocols.
The Authority further noted that although an RTI request was initially submitted, it was later withdrawn, even as copies of the request and related correspondence circulated on social media. It said, however, that it will still respond to the request in line with legal obligations.
The GMA maintained that all its operations are conducted in strict compliance with national laws and international maritime standards, stressing that it remains committed to safeguarding Ghana’s maritime integrity and will not compromise on regulatory enforcement.
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