Ghana refers maritime boundary dispute with Togo to international arbitration

Ghana has formally initiated international arbitration proceedings to settle its long-running maritime boundary dispute with neighbouring Togo.

In a press statement issued on Friday by the Presidency Communications Office, the government confirmed it had notified Lomé of its intention to pursue delimitation of the contested boundary under international law. 

The statement reads: “The Government of Ghana has served the Government of Togo with notice of its decision that the maritime boundary between Ghana and Togo be delimited by recourse to international arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”

The move comes after eight years of discussions failed to produce a mutually agreed settlement. 

According to the statement, “This follows attempts at negotiating a boundary which have gone on for the past eight years but have not resulted in an agreed outcome.”

While the precise flashpoints were not detailed, the Government indicated that unresolved issues have begun to strain institutional relations. It stressed that arbitration is intended to prevent matters from deteriorating further and to preserve diplomatic ties. 

“Ghana has taken this step in order to avoid an escalation of incidents that have created tensions between some of our institutions and to promote an amicable resolution, thereby contributing to the continued good relations between our two countries.”

The decision to refer the matter to arbitration under UNCLOS suggests Ghana is seeking a binding legal determination rather than continued political negotiation. UNCLOS provides a recognised framework for resolving disputes over maritime boundaries, territorial waters and resource rights, and has previously been used by coastal states to secure definitive rulings.

Maritime boundaries are particularly sensitive in West Africa, where offshore oil and gas reserves and fishing grounds carry significant economic importance. Although the statement did not reference specific exploration blocks or incidents at sea, the emphasis on avoiding escalation points to mounting practical and possibly commercial pressures.

The next steps will likely involve the constitution of an arbitral tribunal and the submission of legal arguments by both states, a process that can take several years before a final award is delivered.