A Member of Parliament has raised serious concerns regarding the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) following its decision to waive a $1 million statutory penalty imposed on MV Sankofa, a vessel intercepted in Ghanaian territorial waters under questionable registration and safety conditions.
Samuel Awuku, MP for Akuapem North, revealed that the Ghana Navy intercepted the vessel off the coast of Axim on July 22, 2025, after it was detected operating with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) deactivated.
A subsequent inspection report by the GMA on July 27, 2025, cited severe safety and regulatory breaches, declaring the vessel unseaworthy.
MV SANKOFA REGULATORY TIMELINE & DEFICIENCIES
| Interception Date | July 22, 2025 (Intercepted off Axim with AIS switched off) |
| GMA Inspection | July 27, 2025 (Found unseaworthy; 14 statutory certs missing) |
| Initial Penalty | $1,000,000 statutory fine + $139,200 pollution penalty |
| Statutory Flag Status | Flagged as false by São Tomé and Príncipe authorities |
| Departure Date | November 14, 2025 (Departed under reported Cameroonian flag) |
| Senegal Detention | Detained in Dakar during drug probe (Reported flying GH flag)| |
Discrepancies in penalties and flag verification
Despite initial findings that MV Sankofa lacked an oil record book, garbage record book, sewage holding tank, and valid flag registration—with São Tomé and Príncipe explicitly denying ever registering the ship—the GMA later set aside the $1 million penalty. The regulator stated that subsequent reviews showed no proof the vessel had engaged in commercial trade within Ghana.
MP Awuku rejected the explanation, emphasising that international maritime law regarding “innocent passage” requires continuous and expeditious movement, which does not apply to unseaworthy vessels anchored without clear authorisation.
Furthermore, official records revealed a $60,000 discrepancy in pollution-related fines:
- Initial GMA Inspection Report: Assessed pollution penalties at $139,200
- Right to Information (RTI) Response (June 12, 2026): Stated total penalties as $79,200
Escalation to Transport Ministry and International Authorities
Following its departure from Ghana on November 14, 2025, under claimed Cameroonian registration, MV Sankofa was subsequently detained in Senegal in connection with an international drug investigation. Reports indicated the vessel was flying the Ghanaian flag at the time of its detention in Dakar.
To address these compliance failures, Awuku announced formal requests for information directed to the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, and the GMA Governing Board. He is seeking:
- The legal opinion or board resolution authorising the $1 million fine waiver.
- An official financial reconciliation accounting for the $60,000 variance in pollution penalties.
- The identity of the official who cleared the vessel for departure without verified safety certificates.
Additionally, formal documentation will be submitted to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to report potential fraudulent flag registration and registry abuse.
“A vessel found unseaworthy, unable to establish the validity of its flag and missing essential statutory and pollution-control documentation should not pass through Ghana’s regulatory system without a complete and documented explanation,” Awuku stated.
