The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has rejected claims by NPP communicator, Dennis Edward ‘Miracles’ Aboagye, that its vessel monitoring system is ineffective, and that vessels sailing in Ghana’s waters are not being monitored.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the Authority described the claims as “false, misleading, and do not reflect the operational reality of maritime surveillance in Ghana.”
According to the statement, Aboagye had claimed on TV3’s Daily Brief and Joy FM’s Newsnite on Tuesday, September 22, that the system used by the GMA to provide surveillance on Ghana’s high seas has been down for months, leaving the Authority to operate “blindly.”
Aboagye made the claim while commenting on the recent drug busts, including the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine worth €225 million at the Port of Dunkirk in France, concealed in a container shipped from Ghana, as well as the 866 parcels of suspected cocaine found at Tema Harbour.
He had argued that the failure of the surveillance system was affecting Ghana’s ability to monitor illicit activities at sea.
But the GMA has categorically refuted the claim, saying: “The Authority’s surveillance system for monitoring vessels within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction is operational,” the statement signed by the Public Relations Unit said.
According to the Authority, it continues to use its maritime domain awareness tools to monitor vessels and maintains 24-hour surveillance of Ghana’s maritime domain.
The system, the GMA said, is also used for monitoring and protecting offshore oil and gas facilities, pipelines and submarine cables.
“The Authority uses standard operating procedures to track vessel, verify identity and compliance, and support safety, security, and environmental protection within its maritime domain. The suggestion that vessels in Ghana’s waters are not monitored is therefore untrue,” it added.
The GMA said it remains committed to continuous surveillance and the protection of Ghana’s maritime interests and urged the public to disregard the claim and rely on official communication from the Authority.
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