Ghana shares maritime boundaries with Côte d’Ivoire to the West and Togo, Benin, and Nigeria to the East. The Commission’s focus in terms of maritime boundary operations has centred on negotiations with the Republic of Togo on a long-standing maritime dispute between the two countries. Additionally, in the spirit of good neighbourliness and cross-border cooperation, the Commission and the National Boundary Commission of Nigeria have held discussions on joint processes towards the proper delimitation of the common maritime boundary between the two countries as well as their overlapping Continental Shelf beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone.
The Maritime Boundary Technical Committee
The Commission established a Maritime Boundary Technical Committee in the first quarter of 2021 to perform assigned functions for the Commission as stipulated in Act 795. The Committee is responsible for:
a. Dealing with matters affecting the maritime borders of Ghana.
b. Participating in the delimitation of international maritime boundaries in accordance with the delimitation instrument or documents for that purpose.
c. Proffering solutions to international maritime boundary dispute involving Ghana.
d. Promoting trans-border cooperation and border area development; and
e. making recommendations to the Board on international maritime boundary matters.
Membership of the Land Boundary Technical Committee:
a. The National Coordinator as Chairperson
b. One representative each of the following not below the rank of a Director:
i. the Ministry responsible for Foreign Affairs and Regional integration nominated by the Minster responsible for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration;
ii. the Ministry responsible for National Security nominated by the Minister responsible for National Security
iii. the Petroleum Commission nominated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission
iv. the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation nominated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation
v. the Ghana Maritime Authority nominated by the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority;
c. one representative of the Ghana Armed Forces not below the rank of Colonel or an equivalent rank nominated by the Chief of the Defence Staff;
d. one representative of the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice not below the rank of Chief State Attorney nominated by the Attorney General and Minister responsible for Justice;
e. the Director of the Survey and Mapping Division; and
f. two other persons nominated by the Commission.
The Committee has been actively engaged in maritime dispute negotiations since 2021 and have hosted and participated in a series of meetings to deliberate on issues related to the Commission’s mandate.
Resolution of Maritime Boundary Disputes
Resolving the long-standing maritime dispute between Ghana and the Republic of Togo has been the primary focus of the Commission since its full operationalization in 2021. GhBC re-initiated negotiations, which had stalled for a considerable period of time, with Togo and has since then made significant progress towards amicably arriving at a consensus. Below summarizes GhBC’s headway towards amicably settling Ghana’s maritime dispute with Togo.
Resolution of Maritime Boundary Disputes
Resolving the long-standing maritime dispute between Ghana and the Republic of Togo has been the primary focus of the Commission since its full operationalization in 2021. GhBC re-initiated negotiations, which had stalled for a considerable period of time, with Togo and has since then made significant progress towards amicably arriving at a consensus. Below summarizes GhBC’s headway towards amicably settling Ghana’s maritime dispute with Togo.
· Maritime dispute between Ghana and Togo surface in 2018.
· The dispute leads to a halt in all fishing and oil exploration activities and operations along the disputed area.
· Formation of the Joint Ghana-Togo Maritime Technical Committee in early 2021 comprising both Ghanaian and Togolese Officials. Negotiations re-initiated.
· Joint Maritime Technical Committee jointly agree on a road map to resolving the dispute.
· Formation of the Joint Ghana-Togo Maritime Technical Sub-Committee also comprising of Ghanaian and Togolese Officials. The Sub-Technical Committee is charged with the responsibility of collating and preparing all technical inputs required to direct deliberations at the Joint Maritime Technical Committee Meetings.
· Coordinates of the Land Boundary Terminus between Ghana and Togo, an important pillar for determining the starting point for delimiting the maritime boundary and mostly referred to Pillar 1, is agreed on.
· The Nautical Chart, baseline and starting point for delimiting the maritime boundary between the two countries was also agreed on in the latter parts of 2021.
Maritime Boundary Facts
