The New Patriotic Party has expressed joy and excitement over what it described as a landmark ruling of the Special Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the maritime boundary dispute between the Republic of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
The ruling, which was delivered this Saturday, 23rd September, 2017 by the justices of the Special Chamber, largely vindicates Ghana’s long held position on the matter in contention.
The party in a statement commended Ghana’s Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Madam Gloria Akufo who led the team for securing a favourable judgment for the country which brings finality on the four-year maritime boundary dispute between the two countries.
”We also applaud the efforts of the immediate past Attorney General of Ghana, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, who was part of Ghana’s team that won this historic case for the country,” the statement added.
The party also praised the Ivorian team for their cooperation throughout the trial and thanked the Special Chamber for the courteous and expeditious manner with which it dispensed justice on the dispute.
”We have also noted with delight, the fact that the implication of this landmark ruling, according to lawyers and petroleum experts, would not affect Ghana’s oilfield; which means that the nation’s oil reserve remains intact,” it said.
What it also means is that, Ghana can now proceed with exploration activities in the hitherto, “disputed area”.
”Indeed, the battle was the Lord’s,” the statement signed by acting General secretary of the party, Mr. John Boadu acknowledged.
It concluded with a call on government to take proactive steps to safeguard Ghana’s maritime boundary with neighbouring Togo in order to forestall any boundary dispute between the two countries in the future.
Source: otecfmghana.com/Eric Asamoah Protocol
