What You Need to Know
Ghana has opted for international arbitration to resolve its maritime dispute with Togo after eight years of unsuccessful negotiations. The decision, communicated to Togolese authorities, aims to delineate maritime boundaries under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, emphasizing a peaceful resolution to avoid further tensions.
Africa-Press. Ghana has announced that it has decided to resort to international arbitration to resolve its maritime dispute with Togo, following eight years of bilateral negotiations that did not result in a final agreement.
The Ghanaian government stated that it has officially informed Togolese authorities of its decision to initiate arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, aiming to achieve a final delineation of the maritime boundaries between the two countries. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, established in 1982 and effective since 1994, provides a comprehensive legal framework for managing oceans and seas, including the rights of states in their maritime areas, navigation rules, resource exploitation, and peaceful resolution of maritime disputes under international law.
Authorities explained in a statement that the arbitration option was chosen to avoid any new escalation after a series of maritime incidents that have created tension between the two countries, emphasizing that Ghana seeks a peaceful resolution based on international law, in the spirit of good neighborliness and ongoing cooperation.
In contrast, no official comment has been issued by Togolese authorities as of now.
The roots of the dispute are linked to the lack of a clearly defined and officially recognized maritime boundary, which Togolese authorities have previously described during earlier meetings in Lomé as leading to occasional “unfortunate maritime incidents.”
The disagreements revolve around the recognition of existing maritime boundaries and related practices, as Ghana asserts that there is a traditional boundary line that has historically been respected, while Togo believes that no official demarcation has been adopted to date, further aggravating tensions in the maritime border.
The maritime dispute between Ghana and Togo stems from an undefined maritime boundary, which has led to various incidents at sea. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, effective since 1994, aims to provide a legal framework for resolving such disputes. Ghana claims a traditional boundary, while Togo argues that no official demarcation exists, complicating relations between the two nations.
