Ghana-Cote D’ivoire Relations in Post ITLOS Maritime Boundary Judgement
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Date
2019-07
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Publisher
University Of Ghana
Abstract
The continent of Africa and natural resources are two things that are always placed together, be it negatively or positively. The vast wealth in natural resources has brought the continent to its knees due to the sheer violence and instability it caused in years past. In contemporary times, there have been newer discoveries such as oil, gas, uranium and others but this has led to some natural-resource-based boundary conflicts among some African states. A case in point is the maritime boundary dispute between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. This study sought to assess how the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) judgement has been implemented by the two states and assesses their reactions and relations after the verdict has been given and its directives operationalized. The study uses a qualitative approach as it explores the field of natural resource-based conflicts in Africa and specifically delves into the ITLOS judgement on the Ghana- Cote d’Ivoire dispute. The research findings include the fact that the implementation process for the judgement’s directives have been peaceful and this is related as normal state practice for countries that resort to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) settlement bodies. It also finds that the implementation process of the judgement has led to an upsurge in cooperation between the two states in multiple sectors yielding significant mutual benefits and greatly improving bilateral relations. The research recommended that the two states should focus on implementing all the directives of the judgement and must seek to secure sustainable bilateral cooperation.
Description
MA. International Affairs
Keywords
International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), Natural Resources, Ghana, Cote D’ivoire, Africa