The Government of Ghana has formally notified the Government of Togo of its decision to submit the countries’ unresolved maritime boundary dispute to international arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in a move aimed at securing a definitive and rules-based settlement.
In a press statement issued on Friday, February 20, and signed by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the government indicated that the step follows nearly eight years of negotiations that “have not resulted in an agreed outcome.”
The referral to arbitration is intended to provide a structured legal pathway for delimiting the maritime boundary in accordance with international law, while reducing the risk of further institutional tensions. The government noted that the decision is designed to “avoid an escalation of incidents” that have created strains between some state institutions on both sides.
Invoking dispute-resolution mechanisms under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Ghana is seeking what it described as an “amicable resolution,” highlighting its commitment to preserving “continued good relations” with Togo despite the unresolved boundary dispute.
Maritime boundary delimitation carries significant economic implications, particularly in relation to offshore resource exploration, fisheries management, and broader maritime security cooperation. Clear demarcation under internationally recognised legal processes is widely regarded as critical to investment certainty in offshore petroleum and related sectors.
The move signals Accra’s preference for a formal, law-based approach after protracted bilateral engagements failed to yield consensus. International arbitration under UNCLOS provides for binding decisions, offering both legal finality and predictability for future maritime governance.
The development marks a transition from diplomatic negotiations to a formal adjudicative process, reinforcing Ghana’s stated commitment to multilateral dispute resolution frameworks and regional stability.
