[ 2017-09-23 ]

NDC praises Mahama, Atta Mills for ITLOS victory
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), views the
 International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea’s
judgment in favor of Ghana in the maritime dispute
with Côte d’Ivoire, as the fruits of the
foresight and strong leadership of former
President John Mahama, and late President John
Evans Atta Mills.

In a statement, the NDC acknowledged “President
Mahama’s courage in launching the ITLOS case
despite concerns that this could be misinterpreted
by our neighbors as a hostile act and that Ghana
could lose the case at ITLOS.”

The NDC said President Mahama withstood pressure
to withdraw the case, which started in 2014,
demonstrating awareness of the fact “protracted
bilateral negotiations posed a greater danger to
our bilateral relations.”

“The NDC is proud to have played a leadership
role in securing this legal victory and securing
these important resources for the country,” the
statement added.

The ITLOS Chamber in a unanimous decision on
Saturday held that, there has not been any
violation on the part of Ghana on Côte
d’Ivoire’s maritime boundary.
The Chamber rejected Côte d’Ivoire’s argument
that Ghana’s coastal lines were unstable.

The NDC congratulated the judges of the Special
Chamber “on their comprehensive and clear
analysis of the issues and on a fair ruling” and
congratulated the governments of Ghana and Cote
d’Ivoire for seeing this dispute through
“peaceably and in a brotherly spirit.”

The opposition party added that, the ITLOS ruling
represented a victory for pan-African
collaboration, diplomacy, and international rule
of law.
“Our two countries have managed a potentially
divisive and even explosive dispute with great
calm, maturity, and wisdom.  We can now put this
dispute behind us and look forward to many years
of continued collaboration in shipping, fishing,
oil and gas and other subsea resource development
between our countries.”

Find below the full statement

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS

STATEMENT ON THE RULING OF INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
FOR THE LAW OF THE SEA IN THE MARITIME BORDER
DELIMITATION BETWEEN GHANA AND LA COTE D’IVOIRE

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
(ITLOS) this morning delimited the maritime border
between Ghana and la Cote d’Ivoire.

Substantially the court confirmed Ghana’s
historical position – a legal victory for Ghana.
The NDC congratulates the judges of the Special
Chamber on their comprehensive and clear analysis
of the issues and on a fair ruling. 

We congratulate the governments of Ghana and of
La Cote d’Ivoire for seeing this dispute through
peaceably and in a brotherly spirit.  We also
congratulate the Ghanaian legal and technical team
and their support staff of their hard and very
impressive work.

The ITLOS ruling also represents a victory for
pan-African collaboration, diplomacy, and
international rule of law.  Our two countries
have managed a potentially divisive and even
explosive dispute with great calm, maturity, and
wisdom.  We can now put this dispute behind us
and look forward to many years of continued
collaboration in shipping, fishing, oil and gas
and other subsea resource development between our
countries.

We would be remiss if we did not pay tribute to
the late President John Evans Atta Mills who
foresaw the danger that a prolonged maritime
border dispute posed for the development and
security of our two sister countries and West
Africa. Prof Mills established the permanent
Maritime Border Secretariat.

He tasked the Ghana National Petroleum
Corporation, to resource MBS so it could attract
and deploy Ghanaian expertise and develop our
national strategy for resolving the dispute.

We acknowledge President Mahama’s courage in
launching the ITLOS case despite concerns that
this could be misinterpreted by our neighbours as
a hostile act and that Ghana could lose the case
at ITLOS. President Mahama recognised that
protracted bilateral negotiations posed greater
danger to our bilateral relations than a swift,
conclusive, impartial, and authoritative ITLOS
ruling.

  He resisted pressure to withdraw the case and
maintained support for the ITLOS process until the
judges retired to write their judgements last
year.

The NDC is proud to have played a leadership role
in securing this legal victory and securing these
important resources for the country.

Long Live Ghana!
Long Live la Cote d’Ivoire!
Signed
Sir Kofi Poturphy
National Chairman
Saturday,23rd September,2017

Source - citifmonline.com

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