'GMA is monitoring Ghana's marine space blindly’ – Miracles Aboagye

New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Communications Director hopeful Dennis Miracles Aboagye has defended his claim that Ghana’s maritime surveillance system is not functioning effectively.

Miracles Aboagye had earlier alleged that the GMA’s Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS), which is used to monitor Ghana’s maritime domain, had been down for several months.

The GMA, in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 23, rejected the claim and said its systems remain operational for monitoring activities within Ghana’s maritime space.

However, in a response posted on social media on Thursday, September 24, the NPP communicator argued that the VTMIS is not fully operational and accused the Authority of relying on what he described as a less comprehensive system.

Miracles Aboagye claimed that the VTMIS, which provides maritime surveillance through coastal sensor sites fitted with radar, Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and CCTV, had been out of operation at several locations.

He alleged that sites at Ada, Winneba, Axim, Keta and Half Assini are among those affected, adding that the CCTV cameras at the sites were also not functioning.

According to him, the GMA has instead been relying on a system he identified as “Skylight” for maritime surveillance.

He argued that the system can not provide the same continuous coverage as the VTMIS, particularly in detecting smaller vessels and activities outside port limits.

The NPP communicator linked the alleged surveillance gap to concerns over the movement of narcotics through Ghana’s maritime domain.

He argued that smaller boats could potentially approach larger vessels offshore to transfer illicit consignments without being detected if there is no continuous surveillance of Ghana’s waters.

“The collapse of the VTMIS has therefore removed the continuous detection and interception layer. Vessels that are unfit for sea, and that deliberately avoid identification, can enter and operate in Ghana's maritime domain largely unchallenged,” he said.