Former Chief Executive Officer for the Ghana Shippers Authority, Dr Kofi Mbia, has urged authorities in Ghana to develop plans to manage the relationship with Cote D’Ivoire in order to avoid tension between the two countries following the marmite boundary dispute.
According to him, the ruling could potentially damage the existing cordial relationship between the countries.
The Special Chamber of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on Saturday, September 23 ruled in favour of Ghana.
The Chamber ruled unanimously that Ghana did not violate the rights of Cote d’Ivoire in exploring oil at the maritime boundary.
Speaking on this development in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of the Ghana Yensom on Accra 100.5FM on Monday, September 25 Mr Mbia said: “The two parties must begin to talk. Fortunately, after the ruling, both parties agreed to respect the ruling of the court.
“I don’t say Ghana won the case, I always say the judgment went in favour of Ghana because the Ivorian’s are our brothers. We are brothers, however, it is good to have a proper demarcated boundary.
“We need to manage the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire relationship after the case to disabuse the mind-set of the ordinary people in Cote d’Ivoire that Ghana has stolen their oil.
“The Ivorian authorities will also need to educate their people on the fallout of the case.”
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
