Sammi Awuku Demands Answers Over $1m Maritime Waiver as Minority Leader Battles Extortion Claims

The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, has intensified his call for transparency from the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) regarding the controversial waiver of a US$1 million penalty for the vessel MV Sankofa. The vessel, which was intercepted by the Ghana Navy in July 2025 with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) deactivated, was subsequently found to be unseaworthy with multiple safety violations and missing statutory certificates. Despite these findings, the GMA waived the substantial fine, citing a later inspection that allegedly found no evidence of the vessel trading in Ghanaian waters—an explanation Awuku has dismissed as inadequate and legally questionable.

Adding to the maritime controversy is a notable financial discrepancy involving pollution-related penalties for the same vessel. Awuku highlighted that while an internal GMA inspection report cited penalties amounting to US$139,200, a response to a Right to Information (RTI) request listed the figure at only US$79,200. The MP has demanded an immediate clarification of this US$60,000 gap and announced plans to petition the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the GMA Governing Board, and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to ensure accountability and safety compliance within the sector.

In a separate political development, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has urged the public to disregard reports of alleged audio and video evidence linking him to extortion. Speaking from his residence in Accra, the Minority Leader emphasized that he has conducted his parliamentary duties with the utmost integrity and has initiated legal proceedings to clear his name. During his address, he was joined by the Asafo Company Number One and Two from Efutu, who visited him to show solidarity, chanting slogans to affirm their support amidst the legal battle.

Meanwhile, the government faces mounting pressure from the financial sector as aggrieved customers of the defunct Gold Coast Fund Management prepare for a peaceful protest on September 1, 2026. Led by Charles Nyame, the group plans to march to Jubilee House to petition President John Mahama over their locked-up investments. The protesters are frustrated by the lack of full budgetary allocations for their claims in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review and are demanding an expedited compensation process following the financial sector clean-up.

Finally, the Ghanaian judicial system continues to handle high-profile cases involving public institutions. Kweku Osei Korankye Asiedu, a marketer also known as Koka, was recently granted a GH100,000 bail by an Accra Circuit Court after being accused of threatening staff of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). These various developments collectively underscore a period of intense scrutiny on institutional governance, legal accountability, and the management of public funds under the current administration.