The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) oversees the enforcement of the Ghana Maritime Security Act, 2004. This 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 to ensure effective compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code in Ghana.

The Act enables Ghana to fully comply with Chapter XI-2 of the SOLAS Convention and the ISPS Code, empowering the GMA to ensure the safety and security of Ghanaian ships and ports. Additionally, it provides for the enforcement of sanctions to deter security threats within the country’s maritime industry.

However, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is a prerequisite for effectively enforcing this mandate. It therefore became necessary to establish a surveillance unit to enable the Authority to monitor all activities within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction. Consequently, the Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) was established and inaugurated in 2014 to provide 24/7 surveillance of maritime activities within Ghana’s jurisdiction.

The VTMIS consists of eleven (11) Remote Sensor Sites, four (4) Data and Control Centres, and ten (10) Monitoring Stations.