GMA says MV Sankofa is not Ghana-flagged

The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has rejected allegations surrounding the vessel MV Sankofa, saying it is not a Ghana-registered vessel and that the authority acted lawfully in its handling of the case.

In a statement issued in Accra on April 22, GMA responded to public comments by Samuel Awuku, Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, over the vessel identified as MV Sankofa (IMO No. 7395870).

The authority said the vessel was first registered in 1983 under the Ghana flag as a fishing trawler named MV KAAS 105, later renamed MV AFKO 312 in 1987 and MV Marine 711 in 2011.

According to the statement, the vessel was officially de-registered and removed from the country’s ship registry on April 23, 2024 after its owners completed all mandatory processes, including surrendering its Certificate of Ghanaian Registry.

The authority added that another vessel previously named MV Sankofa with IMO No. 907855 was registered under the Ghana flag in 2014, but was also de-registered on October 6, 2021.

It said neither vessel is currently on the country’s register and therefore cannot be described as Ghanaian-flagged.

“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,” the statement said.

The authority said MV Sankofa (IMO No. 7395870) was sighted by the Ghana Navy in the country’s territorial waters on July 18, 2025 during routine patrols.

The crew reportedly said the vessel was undergoing sea trials after engine repairs, but it was escorted to the Sekondi Naval Base for further inspection.

Joint inspections by the Ghana Navy and GMA found breaches of maritime labour regulations and the Marine Pollution Act, 2016 (Act 932), including failure to maintain relevant record books and evidence of false flagging.

The authority said it imposed fines of US$79,200 for marine pollution breaches, GH?154,800 for violations of maritime labour regulations and GH?30,000 for false flagging.

It said although there were initial suspicions that the vessel may have carried cargo or engaged in commercial activities between the country’s ports, investigations found no evidence to support this – meaning a possible fine of up to US$1million was not imposed.

The authority said the vessel was released in November 2025 after undertaking technical remedial measures, acquiring a provisional certificate of registry from Cameroon and paying part of the fines under a managed payment plan. It added that on March 23, 2026, authorities in Senegal contacted Ghana to verify the vessel’s registration and requested consent to board it over suspicions of drug-trafficking.

According to the statement, Senegalese authorities later found no illicit drugs on board and discovered electronic documents indicating the vessel was registered under the Cameroonian flag.

GMA also accused Mr. Awuku of abandoning a parliamentary oversight process and instead pursuing media engagements that it said sought to misinform the public and damage the authority’s reputation.

It said the MP initially raised the issue in a Facebook post and suggested he would use his position as Vice Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Administration and State Interests to pursue the matter.

The authority said it expressed readiness to appear before parliament, but was surprised when the MP later resorted to public commentary and media interviews.

It further expressed concern that confidential communication between Senegalese authorities and the country’s law enforcement agencies had been made public, saying such disclosures could undermine state-to-state security cooperation.

The authority said it remains committed to enforcing maritime laws and international regulatory standards in the country’s best interests.

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