Rawlings urges Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire to manage maritime issues

Accra, May 20, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings has called on the governments of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire to tackle their maritime border issues in a frank, mature and responsible manner.

He said goodwill was required to meet challenges ahead, noting that situations that could easily be exploited by non-patriots should be avoided. A statement issued by the office of the former President and made available to GNA in Accra, said that former President Rawlings made the call when the Ivorian Ambassador to Ghana, Emmanuel August Ackah paid a courtesy call on him in Accra.

President Rawlings said that advice and services of knowledgeable, wise and experienced people should be utilised by countries. Mr Ackah said he had been mandated by President Laurent Gbagbo to express sympathies of the President and people of Cote d'Ivoire to the Rawlings family over the February 14 fire that gutted their residence. He noted that Ghana's relationship with Cote d'Ivoire was important, as a good partnership would serve as an avenue to strengthen unity, peace and security within the sub-region.

On the on-going border commission discussions, Mr Ackah said the main pre-occupation of Cote d'Ivoire was on the need to have clarity on the maritime border demarcations to forestall future differences with Ghana.

"President Gbagbo has made his position clear to President Mills. If in the course of the discussions oil becomes an issue Cote d'Ivoire is committed to ensuring that a lasting solution is reached," he stated. Mr Ackah thanked President Rawlings for his good work in developing Ghana and said he was a witness to the extreme under-development and poverty in Ghana prior to the 1979 uprising and observed with keen interest the changes former the President had brought to Ghana during his tenure of office. President Rawlings and wife Nana Konadu thanked President Gbagbo and Mr Ackah for their sympathy.