The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) oversees the enforcement of the Ghana Maritime Security Act, 2004 (Act 675). The Act gives effect to Chapter XI-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended, to enhance maritime safety and security. It also establishes a legal framework for compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code in Ghana.

The Act empowers the GMA to ensure the safety and security of Ghanaian ships and ports, and provides for the enforcement of sanctions to deter security threats within the country’s maritime industry.

Effective enforcement requires Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) — knowledge of all activities within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction. To meet this need, the Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) was established and inaugurated in 2014 to provide 24/7 surveillance of maritime activities in Ghanaian waters.

The VTMIS comprises eleven (11) Remote Sensor Sites, four (4) Data and Control Centres, and ten (10) Monitoring Stations. The system supports the detection of illegal maritime activities, coordinates search and rescue operations, helps prevent vessel collisions, and verifies compliance with international maritime regulations.

For more on Ghana’s maritime security framework, see Maritime Security.