Gov’t reacts to new twist in Maritime Boundary Dispute.

Government has confirmed receiving a notice from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, that its neighbour, Cote d’Ivoire, has applied for provisional measures with respect to the Maritime Boundary Dispute between the two countries, and before the Tribunal for a delimitation decision.

A statement signed by the Minister of Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, however, stated that the Government of Ghana remains confident that its position on the location of the Maritime Boundary is legally correct.

It said Government also believes that there are no grounds for the grant of the provisional measures of the kind sought by Cote d'Ivoire, adding that Ghana would pursue its case thoroughly and vigorously.

The statement said a Special Chamber of the Tribunal was constituted on January 12, to preside over the arbitration between the parties.

This followed the decision by the Government of Ghana to submit the boundary dispute between our two countries to judicial decision. This was because negotiations had come to an end.

According to the statement, the main case of delimiting the boundary between the two countries would come to an end in 2017.

It said Government, therefore, says it sees no reason for any change in behaviour, unless and until the Special Chamber of the ITLOS so orders, which the Government considers highly unlikely.

Dr. Omane Boamah noted that, as permitted by international law, petroleum operations in the area will continue, pending a speedy decision by the Special Chamber on this aspect of the case.