(1) Where three or more members of the crew of a Ghanaian ship consider that the provisions and water provided for the use of the crew are at any time of poor quality or insufficient, they may complain to the Registrar of seafarers or the proper officer, who may examine the provisions and water complained of, or cause them to be examined.

(2) Where the person making an examination under this .section finds that the items are of poor quality or insufficient, that person shall communicate that fact in writing to the master of the ship, and if the master fails to provide provisions or water fit for human consumption, the master commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or to both the fine and the imprisonment.

(3) The person making the examination shall enter a statement of the result of the examination in the official log book and send a report to the Registrar of seafarers and that report is admissible in evidence.

(4) Where the person making the examination certifies in the statement that there was no reasonable ground for the complaint, each of the complainants shall be liable to forfeit to the owner out of the complainant's wages a sum not exceeding one week's wages.