Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire commit to implement ITLOS ruling on maritime boundary dispute

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have agreed to abide by and implement the decision of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) regarding their longstanding maritime boundary dispute.

The two countries are currently engaged in high-level discussions to ratify a framework agreement that will address both land and maritime boundary issues, which have been a source of contention for years.

At a joint technical meeting held on Monday, the Commissioner General of the Ghana Boundary Commission, Major General Emmanuel Kotia, announced that preparations are underway for both countries to officially sign and enact the ITLOS ruling.

He noted that the two nations will also undertake an exercise to reaffirm the Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire international border line, further solidifying their commitment to peaceful boundary resolution.

The dispute first escalated in 2014, when Ghana brought the case before ITLOS, following Côte d’Ivoire’s claims that Ghana had encroached on Ivorian maritime territory during oil exploration activities near Cape Three Points, in the Western Region of Ghana.

Ghana defended its position, arguing that Côte d’Ivoire had acknowledged Ghana’s ownership of the area for decades prior to the discovery of oil, and thus could not retroactively claim ownership of the disputed zone.

The ITLOS ruling, issued in 2017, upheld Ghana’s argument, and today’s meeting signifies a significant step toward resolving the dispute amicably. Both Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have pledged to implement the tribunal’s decision in good faith, marking a milestone in diplomatic cooperation and commitment to international law.

The upcoming signing and the planned border reaffirmation exercise are expected to bring clarity to the two countries’ territorial limits, reinforcing stability and fostering economic opportunities in the region.

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