The Ghana Maritime Authority has dismissed claims by Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku over the vessel MV Sankofa, describing his public commentary as misleading and damaging to the Authority’s reputation.
In a statement dated Wednesday April 22, the Authority clarified that the vessel at the centre of the controversy, MV Sankofa (IMO No. 7395870), is not registered under Ghana’s flag.
“The GMA… wishes to state that neither the vessel in question with IMO No 7395870 nor the vessel with IMO No 907855 is on Ghana’s register; therefore, they are not Ghanaian-flagged vessels,” the statement said.
The Authority explained that the vessel was deregistered in April 2024 after fulfilling all required processes and later flagged under Cameroon.
It further disclosed that the vessel was detained in July 2025 after being intercepted in Ghanaian waters by the Navy, where inspections uncovered regulatory breaches.
“These included the failure to maintain relevant record books, as well as evidence of false flagging,” the GMA noted.
According to the Authority, fines were imposed for various infractions, after which the vessel was released in November 2025 following partial payment and compliance measures.
The GMA also addressed recent developments in Senegal, stating it had no link to the vessel’s activities.
“The GMA responded promptly, clarifying that the vessel is not registered in Ghana and explicitly disassociating the Republic of Ghana from all activities involving the said vessel,” it said.
The Authority raised concerns about the conduct of the MP, accusing him of abandoning formal parliamentary processes in favour of media engagements.
“It came as a surprise that the MP subsequently abandoned that formal approach but instead resorted to media engagements that sought to misinform the public,” the statement added.
The GMA reiterated its commitment to transparency and regulatory standards, assuring the public that its operations are conducted in line with national and international maritime laws.
