GPHA Staff Member Remanded for Alleged US$500,000 Tugboat Theft

Prince Edwin Brem, a 47-year-old employee of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), has been remanded in police custody following allegations of theft involving a tugboat valued at $500,000. The Adenta Circuit Court charged Brem with defrauding by false pretenses and forgery after he failed to appear for an initial court hearing, prompting a bench warrant for his arrest.

Brem is accused of misrepresenting himself as a director of Clearsail Shipping International Management Limited to unlawfully charter the tugboat MV Ebenezer. According to reports, he entered into a charter agreement with the vessel's owner, Kofi Kuwada, but failed to return the tugboat after the agreement expired in February 2025. Investigations revealed that Brem used an unauthorized company stamp and attempted to redirect the tugboat to The Gambia, raising concerns about his intentions to return it to its rightful owner.

The tugboat has reportedly been traced to Guinea-Bissau, and authorities are currently working to recover it. The court is set to hear Brem's plea at the next adjourned date, as the case continues to unfold, highlighting significant issues of fraud and unauthorized actions within the GPHA.