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(1) Where-

(a) damage has been caused in any part of the world to any property belonging to the Government, a citizen of Ghana or a body corporate resident in Ghana by any foreign ship; or

(b) a claim is made for damages by or on behalf of any citizen of Ghana; in respect of personal injuries, including fatal injuries against the owners of a foreign ship,

and at any time after that period that ship or any other ship wholly and beneficially owned by the same owner is found in Ghana, the High Court may, upon being satisfied that the damage or injury was caused by the misconduct or want of skill of the master or crew of the ship, issue an order to any officer of the Authority or an officer of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service requiring the officer to detain the ship until such time as the owner, master or agent has satisfied any claim arising out of the damage or injury.

(2) The owner or agent of the ship shall obey any decision, suit or other legal proceedings that may be instituted in respect of the damage or injury and pay costs and damages that may be awarded by the Court.

(3) Any officer to whom the order is given shall detain the ship accordingly.

(4) Where it appears that before an application can be made under this section the ship in respect of which the application is to be made would have departed from Ghana, the ship may be detained for such time as will allow the application to be made or adequate security to be provided in respect of the application and the result shall be communicated to the officer detaining the ship.

(5) In any legal proceedings in relation to any damage or personal injury, the person giving security shall be made defendant and shall be stated to be the owner of the ship that has occasioned the damage or injury.