Ghana has been rated as the country on the west coast of Africa with the highest recorded number of stowaways.
Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Richard Yinga Anamoo says the situation is worrying.
In a meeting with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on Wednesday at the Tema port, Mr. Anamoo bemoaned the fact that when the stowaways are arrested, they are often released by the police because of lack of evidence.
He noted that the mere fact that one enters a vessel illegally, it can be assumed that the person intends to stowaway.
“So, we are not very clear as to what would be the evidence that the police could not have produced to support the case; this is a very worrying incidence,” he said.
“We are putting in a lot of measures including electronic devices and what have you.”
Mr. Amanoo said his outfit has intensified the 24 hour patrols at the port.
He, therefore, wants the IGP to aid them in addressing the problem.
The IGP, Mohammed Alhassan, gave the assurance that his outfit will help deal with the matter. “We will increase the number of officers and logistics,” the IGP promised.
Mr. Mohammed Alhassan has been touring parts of the Greater Accra region inspecting the work of the marine police.
His tour took him to Senchi, in the Eastern region and Ada, in the Greater Accra region.
