Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire initiate moves to implement ITLOS ruling

Ghana and La Cote D’Ivoire have agreed to continue to work together towards the implementation of the judgment of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the boundary dispute between Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire.

The two countries also agreed to continue further engagements within the context of the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) signed between Ghana and Cote d’lvoire last year.

This was contained in a press statement from the Office of the Senior Minister on the joint communique issued by the two countries at the end of a two days visit to Cote d’Ivoire by a delegation from Ghana.

The Ghana team which was led by the Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo, included the Attorney General, Gloria AKuffo, Minister of foreign Affairs and Regional Intergration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu.

According to the statement, the delegation was in Cote d’Ivoire to officially inform that country of Ghana’s intention to start with the implementation of the decision of the of the Special Chamber of ITLOS on the delimitation boundary between the two countries in the Atlantic Ocean by depositing the relevant documents on the issue with the relevant agencies of the United Nations.

The statement said the implementation of the decisions of the Special Chamber of the ITLOS is expected to assure the investor community of the security of their investment and also ensure that oil concession blocks can be given right up to the line.

It said the implementation of the judgment is also expected to attract the giants in the oil industry to the deep water environment of the country to help make new discoveries.