The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has refuted claims by Akuapim North MP, Samuel Awuku, clarifying that the controversial vessel, MV Sankofa, is neither registered in Ghana nor linked to the country.
The authority said the vessel at the centre of public controversy was not on Ghana’s registry and currently had no connection to the country.
The response follows recent commentary by Mr Awuku regarding the activities of the ship.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the GMA indicated that the vessel, MV Sankofa (IMO No 7395870), was sighted on July 18, 2025, by the Ghana Navy in Ghana’s territorial waters during its patrols.
Upon an enquiry, the crew reported that the vessel was undergoing sea trials necessitated by repair works undertaken on its engine.
However, there was the need to undertake further inspections, thus the vessel was escorted to the Sekondi Naval Base.
It noted that further inspection by the Ghana Navy and the GMA revealed violations of Ghana’s maritime labour regulations and the Marine Pollution Act, 2016 (Act 932).
These included the failure to maintain relevant record books, as well as evidence of false flagging.
In light of these findings, the statement added that the authority imposed the following statutory fines on the vessel for various infractions: $79,200 for marine pollution regulatory breaches, GH¢154,800 for violations of the maritime labour regulations and GH¢30,000 for the act of false flagging.
Although there was an initial suspicion that the vessel could have carried cargo or engaged in commercial business between Ghana’s ports, further inspections confirmed this was not the case.
Consequently, a fine which could have carried a maximum penalty of $1 million could not be imposed.
Following technical remedial measures by the vessel, including the acquisition of a provisional certificate of registry from Cameroon, and the payment of a portion of the fines with a managed payment plan, the vessel was released in November 2025.
The authority further explained that another vessel bearing the same name had earlier been deregistered in 2021, stressing that no vessel named MV Sankofa is currently operating under the Ghanaian flag.
“Subsequent inspections revealed breaches of maritime labour regulations, marine pollution laws, and false flagging, leading to the imposition of fines.
The vessel was later released in November 2025 after undertaking corrective measures and securing provisional registration from Cameroon,” the statement disclosed.
The authority revealed that in March 2026, Senegalese authorities contacted Ghana to verify the vessel’s status following suspicions of drug trafficking.
Accordingly, a search conducted by Senegalese authorities found the vessel which was operating under the Cameroonian flag.
Moreover, the GMA accused the Akuapim North MP of bypassing formal parliamentary processes and engaging the media in a manner that it said risked misleading the public and undermining the authority’s work.
The authority maintained that its actions have been in line with national laws and international maritime standards and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s maritime integrity.
BY TIMES REPORTER
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