ITLOS Ruling On Ghana-Cote D'ivoire Maritime Dispute And Related Matters

On Friday 23rd September, 2017, Ghana secured legal victory over La Côte d'Ivore on the three year maritime border dispute in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) under the auspices of the United Nations special Chamber for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It was a victory as well for La Côte d'Ivoire for showing commitment and maturity throughout the said period.

From this stood out many things. First, Ghana's former political administration with it's Attorney General filed the case in court in 2014. The current administration never truncated the case. In fact, it collaborated with the passed administration to ensure a successful outcome. No partisan lines. That is the spirit of nationalism and patriotism; necessary ingredients for nation building.

The equanimity of both parties is commendable throughout the legal process, and especially Côte d'Ivoire. Both parties understand that the appropriate means to seek redress is the court. Not to go to war. This is alien to Africa and Africans. The distorted historical facts of Africa as the "Dark Continent" need to be corrected and retold.

Currently, negotiations are underway for Ghana's President and Côte d'Ivoire's to meet in the continuous spirit of brotherliness and further strengthen our bilateral relations.

This ruling shouldn't put us asunder and mar our peaceful coexistence.

Paradoxically, there is brewing tension concurrently with this and the UNGA 72nd between the US and North Korea over the latter's nuclear deal. Can we also see a peaceful resolution and restoration of peace in the world's super powers?. What was the UN message on this?. All are involved.

N. Korea has fired more ballistic nuclear missiles earlier this year, triggering the anger of President Donald Trump, who vowed to "totally destroy" N. Korea in his address to the UNGA. "North Korea won't be around much longer if it remains a menace", Mr. Trump tweeted on Saturday 23rd September. The two have been sounding war drums in recent times.

“The mentally deranged behavior of the U.S. President openly expressing on the UN arena, the unethical will to ‘totally destroy’ a sovereign state ... makes even those with normal thinking faculty think about discretion and composure". Mr. Kim Jong Un, who Trump had earlier on referred to as "Rocket Man", has responded!. But are these just empty threats?

Meanwhile, earlier, Vladimir Putin of Russia warned US not to undermine N. Korea.

Coincidentally, 26th September marks International Day for Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, under the UN Charter, and comes after the UNGA.

To mark the celebration, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres made the clarion call thus "There are many paths to a nuclear-weapons-free world. I appeal to all states to intensify their efforts to contribute to the shared vision in their own ways."

The world must speak. Speak with a united voice to end the monster of nuclear weapons of mass destruction. The world can't afford another Cold War or World War lll. World leaders, multilateral organisations, agencies et cetera must act now to end this looming canker.

Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire have just ended their "peaceful war". We thank them. And let others take a cue from it. We should be grateful to Ghana's both Attorney Generals- Mrs. Marietta Brew Appia and Miss Gloria Akuffo for an excellent work done. You're source of inspiration and hope to women. It's a good news for gender activists too.

Deme-Der Simon
[email protected]
+233541155991.