Ghana’s presidency has announced its decision to resort to international arbitration to settle its maritime dispute with Togo, following eight years of bilateral negotiations that failed to produce a final agreement.
The Ghanaian government said it has formally notified the Togolese authorities of its decision to initiate arbitration proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), with the aim of reaching a definitive delimitation of the maritime boundary between the two countries. Concluded in 1982 and entering into force in 1994, UNCLOS provides a comprehensive legal framework for the governance of oceans and seas, including states’ rights over their maritime zones, navigation rules, resource exploitation, and the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes in accordance with international law.
In a statement, Ghanaian authorities explained that the choice of arbitration was intended to prevent any further escalation after a series of maritime incidents that heightened tensions between the two countries. They stressed that Ghana is seeking a peaceful resolution grounded in international law, in a spirit of good neighborliness and continued cooperation.
For its part, no official comment has yet been issued by authorities in Togo.
The maritime dispute between Ghana and Togo is linked to the absence of clearly defined and officially recognized maritime boundaries. Togolese authorities previously stated during meetings in Lomé that this situation has at times led to “unfortunate maritime incidents.”
The disagreement centers on the recognition of existing maritime limits and related practices. Ghana maintains that there is a historically respected traditional boundary line, while Togo argues that no formal delimitation has been officially adopted to date, a divergence that continues to fuel tensions along their maritime border.