Akuapem North MP and Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Public Administration and State Interests, Sammi Awuku, has formally invoked the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), to request detailed records from the Ghana Maritime Authority over its handling of a controversial vessel, MV Sankofa.
In a request addressed to the Authority’s Chief Executive, Awuku is seeking clarity on the vessel’s entry into Ghanaian waters, its detention, compliance with maritime regulations, and the circumstances surrounding its eventual departure.
According to reports, MV Sankofa was detained in Ghana in July 2025 over alleged regulatory breaches but was later allowed to leave under conditions that remain unclear. The vessel was subsequently intercepted in Senegal in connection with suspected illicit drug trafficking.
Awuku’s request aims to establish a clear timeline of the ship’s movements, including when it entered and exited Ghana’s territorial waters, the ports it called at, and the flag it operated under at different stages of its journey.
He is also asking the Authority to confirm whether the vessel was formally arrested or detained, the legal basis for any enforcement action taken, and whether sanctions, fines, or prosecutions were pursued.
Further, the MP is seeking details on whether any penalties were waived, whether agreements were signed with the vessel’s operators, and whether identified regulatory breaches were addressed, with supporting documentation.
The move follows earlier comments by Awuku on April 9, when he indicated his intention to raise the matter in Parliament. At the time, he alleged that the vessel had been detained while flying the São Tomé flag but was later allowed to sail without clear evidence that sanctions had been enforced.
He also pointed to inconsistencies in the vessel’s registration status, citing conflicting accounts from Ghanaian and Senegalese authorities on whether the ship was formally registered in Ghana or merely operating under its flag.
Awuku has warned that the incident raises broader national security and reputational concerns, particularly in light of previous allegations linking Ghana to international drug trafficking networks.
He has urged the Ghana Maritime Authority to respond within the timelines set out under the Right to Information Act, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability in the country’s maritime enforcement regime.
