ITLOS ruling: Ghana, Ivory Coast successfully plots all coordinates; boundary dispute settled

The boundary dispute between Ghana and Ivory Coast has been amicably settled after both parties reached a consensus on the plotting of the coordinates in Accra today.

The Coordinates provided by the International Tribunal for Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in its judgement of the boundary dispute brought before it by Ivory Coast, was to assist both parties draw the line that separates the countries.

Head of Ghana’s delegation at the meeting and Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo explained that at the end of the event both parties had reached an agreement based on a review done on the October 2017 ruling of ITLOS.

He added, however, that the document indicating the plotted coordinates will be prepared and made known during a third meeting of the two sides in Cote d'Ivoire in October 2018.

Presenting the agreement that was signed by both countries, Osafo Maafo stressed, “We have now plotted all the coordinates, 7 of them and we have now determined the maritime boundary as announced by the ITLOS in October last year.”



The leader of the Ghanaian delegation provided details of the agreement to the gathering explaining, "Ghana indicated at the beginning that it has reviewed a chart with the plotted coordinates of the maritime boundary as provided by ITLOS, submitted by Cote d’Ivoire submitted at the May 2018 meeting in Abidjan and found it acceptable in principle. Secondly, the parties subsequently jointly plotted the 7 coordinates in accordance with the ITLOS decision and have agreed to execute a document evidencing the plotted maritime boundary at the next meeting Scheduled for October 2018 in Cote d’Ivoire."

To avert any future disagreements between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire concerning discoveries of natural resources along the border of both countries, the two sides have agreed to draw guidelines that will dictate how things will be done.

This proposal according to the agreement reached at the end of the two-day event in Accra will be drafted in Cote d'Ivoire during the October 2018 meeting.

"The parties have also agreed to discuss the draft framework agreement on corporation in the areas of maritime boundaries, hydrocarbons and other natural resources between the two countries at the next meeting in Cote d’Ivoire" Osafo Maafo noted.

Ghana's team included Attorney-General, Gloria Akuffo, reps from relevant stakeholders and technical people.