The Center for Progressive Governance (CenProG) has noted with relief the judgement delivered by the special chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea with regards to the dispute concerning the delimitation of the maritime boundary between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire in the Atlantic Ocean.
CenProG notes that the judgement in many ways is a win for Ghana which was premised on the sound defence put up by Ghana and the seriousness with which the Government of Ghana started the processes leading up to the delivery of this satisfactory judgement.
Indeed, the special chamber acknowledged in the ruling that at least 10 meetings took place between 2009 and 2014 and it is worthy of note that Cote d'Ivoire put forward not less than four different positions during these meetings. CenProG therefore praises the effort of Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, then Attorney General who stood her grounds and remained completely consistent whiles applying due digence.
CenProG is also very aware of the enormous contributions by Ms Marrieta Brew Oppong when she also took over as Attorney General and continuing with the same consistency with which the negotiations had started. It is therefore no wonder that the current Attorney General requested for Ms Marrietta Brew to stay on the legal team and ensure that the momentum was not lost in the final stages.
It is also worthy of note that the former Attorney Generals enjoyed immense support from the entire government machinery by the constitution of a team of technical experts drawn from various ministries and also to the extent that the office of the President established the maritime boundary secretariat headed by a coordinator. CenProG therefore acknowledges the efforts of the late President Mills and former President John Mahama who did not relent in their support to ensure that such a ruling will suffice.
CenProG salutes all members of the legal teams and team of technical experts and also commends the special chamber for a good job done.
God Bless our homeland Ghana and make it GREAT and STRONG.
Signed
Sawadogo Mahmoud
Executive Secretary, CenProG