Kofi Ampeah Woode
La Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana have penned signatures to Agreements that strategically creates way for the implementation of the ruling of the International Tribunal for the Laws of the Sea (ITLOS), and to reaffirm land boundaries between the two countries.
The endorsements happened on Tuesday 5 November 2024, at the Labadi Beach Hotel, after two days of engagements between the Joint Committees – Legal, Land and Maritime – of the Boundary Commissions of the two neighbours.
The conference set strategic objectives for the meeting, such as to work on various frameworks that have been discussed over the past year, and their strategic outcomes; to validate two Framework Agreements; a Procedure on How to Implement the ITLOS Agreement; and the Reaffirmation of Land Boundaries.
The sitting also succeeded in drawing a Work Plan for the implementation of the ITLOS ruling on the International Maritime Boundary Line between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire; and worked out details for the continuation of the Reaffirmation of the International Land Boundary between the two countries.
Speaking at the close of the sitting, the Commissioner General, Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC) – Major General (Maj Gen) Emmanuel Wekem Kotia said, the scope and strategy of boundary commissions in Africa is widening, and shifting from the more traditional activities of implementing and reaffirming of land-maritime boundaries, to people-centered issues.
He added that the GhBC has decided that with effect from 2025, it would concentrate on identifying deprived border communities in rural Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, and seek for social intervention for those areas, as a result of research work.
He announced that the GhBC has rehabilitated a health clinic in a border town in Ghana, and plans to construct a three-unit classroom at Newtown – a border town which serves as the terminating boundary point of the International Maritime Boundary Line between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
Ghana’s Boundary Commission has a Bill before Parliament, which envisions placing the Commission in a strategic position to be able to undertake its work.
“We want to emphasize that where our problems exist between the two countries, the two Boundary Commissions will be at the forefront to resolve those issues or any conflict that may come, whether at the local level or in a wider perspective”, the Commissioner General said.
The Executive Secretary, Boundary Commission for the Frontiers of la Cote d’Ivoire (CNFCI) – Mr Diakalidia Konate said, the conference, which is the 4th Joint Committee Meeting, allowed the CNFCI to adopt the legal framework that would allow his Commission to carry out its mission of reaffirming terrestrial borders, and to implement the decision of the Courts through the adoption of the plan of activities.
He added that the results achieved at the meet are eloquent results that allows the Commission to move forward, and that in the face of many problems that run along the common border, it is urgent to provide adequate and sustainable answers.
He assured of peace between border communities, and the two states, and to guarantee security, peaceful coexistence and sustainable socio-economic development of the border areas, which he said would strengthen the relationship between the two neighbours.
Dr Sanou Bakary – West Africa Project Director, African Union Border Program (AUBP) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fϋr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Mitigation of Transnational Organized Crime (MTOC) said, Boundary Commissions are relevant tools for unity, peace and security in Africa.
He said the GIZ believes that there is great humanity in the agenda that the GhBC and CNFCI are pursuing, hence his institution would remain available to support the implementation of the joint action plan that have been validated.
Persons involved in the Joint Boundary Commission Technical Committee bilateral meeting included the President, ESCO VOLTA NOIRE – Philippe Hien, the military, Chief State Attorneys, experts from Foreign Affairs, Diplomats, Deputy Comptroller General, Ghana Immigration Service, Deputy Chief Executive – Ghana National Petroleum Corporation; Director, Survey and Mapping, Ghana Lands Commission, topographers, satellite imaginary and map experts.
Below is a copy of the Communique:
THE JOINT GHANA/COTE D’IVOIRE BOUNDARY COMMISSIONS PLENARY MEETING HELD IN ACCRA FROM 4 NOVEMBER 2024 TO 5 NOVEMBER 2024
Considering the existing bond of friendly relations between the Republic of Ghana and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire over the years sustained through history, geography and culture; Recalling the decisions from the previous meetings between the Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire Boundary Commissions held in Ghana and in Côte d’Ivoire over the past two years;
The Fourth Joint Ghana/Cote d’Ivoire Plenary Boundary Commission meeting was held in Accra, Ghana, from 4 November 2024 to 5 November 2024, under the Co-Chairmanship of Major General Emmanuel Kotia, Commissioner General of the Ghana Boundary Commission and Mr Diakalidia Konaté, the Executive Secretary of the National Boundary Commission of Côte d’Ivoire. The meeting set up three Technical Committees to work on three areas, namely:
a. To review relevant Framework Agreements and Procedures for the joint activities of the two Commissions.
b. To discuss the work plan to implement the ITLOS ruling on the International Maritime Boundary.
c. To assess land boundary reaffirmation activities and propose a work plan for 2025 onwards.
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE PARTIES
The following were agreed by the parties after the two-day meeting:
a. The parties agreed on the text of the following Framework Agreements and Procedures:
(1) Framework Agreement on the Reaffirmation of Land Boundaries and Implementation of the ITLOS ruling on the Maritime Boundary between Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.
(2) Framework Agreement on Cross-Border Cooperation.
(3) Rules of Procedure for the Reaffirmation of Land Boundaries and Implementation of Maritime Boundary.
b. It was decided that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana should sign the English version while the Ivorian Minister of Foreign Affairs signs the French version of the Agreements and Procedures. Both versions are to be exchanged through diplomatic channels for the final signature by 30 November 2024.
c. The parties agreed on the following plan of action for Joint Land Boundary Reaffirmation:
(1) The finalization of Phase I of the Reaffirmation Exercise shall be jointly undertaken between January and March 2025.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
