A major crude oil-induced border dispute could break out between Ghana and
neighbouring Ivory Coast, if immediate steps are not taken to enter into
appropriate negotiations to redefine the international boundary between the
two West African nations.

Ghana’s Western neighbor Ivory Coast is reportedly laying claims to
portions of the huge oil wealth in the deep waters of the Western Region.

In a move to save the situation, Ghana has begun an urgent move to pass a
new law that seeks to establish the Ghana Boundary Commission to undertake
negotiations to determine and demarcate Ghana’s land boundaries and
de-limit Ghana’s maritime boundaries.

Parliament has therefore been tasked to race against time to pass the Ghana
Boundary Commission Bill under a certificate of urgency.

Speaking exclusively to CitiNews Parliamentary Correspondent Richard Sky,
the Minister for Lands and Forestry, Hon Collins Dauda, who laid the bill
before Parliament, said Government is doing everything possible to avoid a
full-blown international dispute with the nation’s Western neighbour.

“There is a critical need for us to put in place a commission that would
lead the negotiation for our maritime and land boundaries with our
neighbours…there are international laws and United Nations conventions that
need to be respected. It is as if of the claim you can take over the area
like that…in these matters you begin with negotiations…as soon as we put
our commission in place then we have the mandate to meet with our
counterpart as to the de-limitations of our maritime boundary”.

The news of Ivory Coast’s claim to parts of Ghana’s oil fields comes just
days after United States operator Vanco struck oil in the deep-water
Dzata-1 well, off Ghana’s Cape Three Points near Ivory Coast, further
boosting the oil wealth in Ghana’s booming offshore Tano basin.

However the Hon Collins Dauda said he is confident Ghana and Ivory Coast
will be able to resolve the matter without any conflict due to the good
relations between the two countries.