Senior aide to NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has challenged the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) to explain the status of its Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS). Aboagye claimed that the system has been down for months, creating gaps in monitoring Ghana's waters. The GMA had rejected his earlier assertion, stating that its surveillance system remains operational with 24-hour surveillance and monitoring of vessels.
Aboagye made the claims in a Facebook post on Thursday, September 24. He argued that the GMA's response fails to address the actual condition of the VTMIS. According to him, the VTMIS was designed to provide a comprehensive view and systems for monitoring and surveillance of Ghanaian waters. The system combines technologies including radar, Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), and CCTV to monitor vessel movements.
The GMA's own official information confirms that the VTMIS was inaugurated in 2014 to provide 24-hour surveillance of maritime activities. It currently describes the system as comprising 11 remote sensor sites, four data and control centers, and 10 monitoring stations. The system detects illegal maritime activities, supports search-and-rescue operations, prevents vessel collisions, and verifies compliance with international maritime regulations.
Aboagye alleged that several coastal surveillance installations are currently not functioning, specifically mentioning Ada, Winneba, Axim, Keta, and Half Assini. He claimed that the associated CCTV cameras were also not operational. A fully functioning surveillance network would enable authorities to identify suspicious or unseaworthy vessels and communicate with them through VHF.
Aboagye linked his concerns about surveillance gaps to the movement of cocaine through Ghana's maritime space. He argued that limitations in vessel detection could create opportunities for smaller boats carrying illicit consignments to approach larger vessels at sea without being detected. This could allow drugs to be transferred between vessels outside port limits.
The GMA disclosed in March 2026 that it expected to operationalize a new VTMIS by June 2026. The planned system would use 20 to 30 long-range cameras mounted along Ghana's coast to provide broader surveillance coverage. Aboagye demanded an update on the status and deployment of the new system.
The GMA has maintained that its maritime surveillance operations are active and that vessels within Ghana's maritime domain are continuously monitored. Aboagye said, "The country awaits clarity and timelines on fixing this huge security gap on our waters."
Key points
- Dennis Miracles Aboagye challenges Ghana Maritime Authority's claim that VTMIS is operational.
- Aboagye alleges that several coastal surveillance installations are not functioning.
- GMA to operationalize new VTMIS by June 2026.
