Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Public Administration and State Interest, Sammi Awuku, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that state institutions deliver effectively on their mandates.
He said his role on the committee will be guided by a commitment to demand accountability and transparency from agencies tasked with safeguarding the national interest.
Mr. Awuku noted that his oversight responsibilities will focus on asking the right questions and pressing for the right answers from institutions whose work directly impacts the welfare of Ghanaians.
“As Vice Chairman for Parliament’s Committee on Public Administration and State Interest, I intend to perform my duties with the aim of assisting these State Institutions in delivering on their mandate and remaining committed to serving the Nation.
“Today I will be asking the right questions and will demand the right answers from those expected to perform their duties in the interest of Mother Ghana,” he said in a post on his Facebook wall.
His remarks come in the wake of concerns about Ghana’s reputation in international maritime affairs, particularly allegations linking the country’s waters to illicit drug trafficking.
Mr. Awuku disclosed that he has come across troubling information suggesting lapses in the oversight functions of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), the body mandated to regulate and secure Ghana’s maritime domain.
The GMA, established to ensure safety in shipping and protect the marine environment, is responsible for inspecting vessels, enforcing compliance with international and local regulations, and imposing sanctions on non-compliant operators.
According to Mr. Awuku, questions have arisen regarding the Authority’s handling of a vessel, M/V Sankofa, which was arrested in Ghanaian waters in 2025 but later allowed to depart under unclear circumstances.
He revealed that the same vessel was subsequently intercepted in Senegal for allegedly transporting illicit drugs, raising serious concerns about Ghana’s enforcement regime.
Correspondence between Senegalese and Ghanaian authorities, which he claimed to have sighted, reportedly shows the GMA denying that the vessel was registered in Ghana despite evidence to the contrary.
“In my capacity as a member of Parliament for the good people of Akuapem North and Vice Chairman for Parliament’s Committee on Public Administration and State Interest, I will be filing a Request for Information to the GMA for answers,” he added.
He highlighted thirteen specific questions that these inquiries will focus on, the vessel entry and identification.
Mr. Awuku, who doubles as Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapem North, believes that obtaining these answers will be critical to addressing potential violations of Ghana’s laws and restoring confidence in the country’s maritime oversight.
