Ghana and Ivory Coast have formalized an agreement to undertake joint naval inspections along their international maritime boundary, following a ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
The collaborative effort aims to prevent territorial disputes, protect marine resources, and monitor oil exploration activities in the region.
This joint operation, set to commence next year, will be coordinated by the Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC) and its Ivorian counterpart.
According to Major General Emmanuel Kotia, Director General of the GhBC, the agreement marks a significant shift from Ghana’s previous independent inspections.
“We will conduct a joint regular inspection… our counterparts from Côte d’Ivoire have agreed to join us,” Kotia said.
He also highlighted plans to continue the land boundary reaffirmation exercise, targeting an additional 300 kilometers to reach a total of 450 kilometers reaffirmed, with 150 kilometers remaining.
The joint communique issued in Accra after the two-day technical committee meeting outlined that the first phase of boundary reaffirmation would run from January to March 2025, with the second phase scheduled between September and October 2025.
The two boundary commissions plan to submit finalized boundary maps to the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) on April 27, 2025.
Ivory Coast’s boundary commission Executive Secretary, Konate Diakalidia, reaffirmed their commitment to partnership, stating, “The primary objective… to expedite the reaffirmation exercise of boundaries, has been successfully accomplished.”
The meeting, supported by the German Development Agency (GIZ) and other regional bodies, laid the foundation for enhanced cooperation, strategic patrols, and the completion of boundary reaffirmation by 2025.
