The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Samuel Kwabena Awuku, has called for a formal probe into troubling irregularities surrounding the handling of a vessel linked to alleged illicit drug trafficking, raising fresh concerns about Ghana’s maritime regulatory and security systems.
In a statement, the lawmaker, who also serves as Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Public Administration and State Interests, indicated that he would subject key state institutions to rigorous parliamentary scrutiny, beginning with the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA).
He stated that his position on the committee obligated him to demand accountability from agencies entrusted with protecting the national interest.
Concerns
Mr Awuku said his concerns were informed by Ghana’s past reputation in international circles as a transit point for illicit drug trafficking, warning that recent developments pointed to the possible resurgence of that threat.
According to him, intelligence available to him suggests there may have been significant lapses, and potentially even complicity, within the maritime regulatory framework.
At the centre of the controversy is the vessel M/V Sankofa, which entered Ghanaian waters in July 2025 during the administration of President John Dramani Mahama.
Mr Awuku disclosed that the vessel was arrested by the Ghana Maritime Authority for multiple breaches of maritime regulations while flying the flag of São Tomé.
He, however, questioned the circumstances under which the vessel was later allowed to depart Ghanaian waters without any publicly documented sanctions, enforcement measures, or prosecution.
The matter has assumed heightened significance following reports that the same vessel was subsequently arrested in Senegal for allegedly transporting illicit drugs after leaving Ghana.
Correspondence
Mr Awuku further revealed that correspondence between authorities in Senegal and Ghana, which he had reviewed, showed that the Ghana Maritime Authority denied the vessel was registered in Ghana despite evidence that it had at one point flown the Ghanaian flag.
He argued that the apparent contradictions raised serious questions about regulatory enforcement, vessel documentation, and accountability within Ghana’s maritime governance system.
As part of his parliamentary oversight mandate, the MP announced plans to file a formal Request for Information to the Ghana Maritime Authority to demand detailed clarification on the vessel’s activities, legal status, and the actions taken by authorities while it remained in Ghanaian waters.
Among the issues he intends to probe are the vessel’s entry and exit dates, its ports of call, and the flags under which it operated during its stay in Ghana.
He is also seeking answers on whether the vessel was officially detained, the exact regulatory breaches identified by the Ghana Maritime Authority, and whether any sanctions, prosecutions, or financial penalties were imposed.
Disclosure
Additionally, Mr Awuku said he would demand full disclosure on whether any persons or entities associated with the vessel were held accountable, including details of fines, penalties, and other compliance enforcement measures undertaken by the state.
He maintained that obtaining clear and verifiable answers was critical not only to resolving the immediate concerns surrounding the M/V Sankofa case but also to restoring public confidence in Ghana’s maritime oversight regime.
Mr Awuku stressed that he would continue to ask the necessary questions and insist on answers from all officials tasked with protecting the interest of the country, adding that his next course of action would depend on the responses provided by the relevant institutions.
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