On Saturday, September 23, 2017, Ghana emerged victor in the maritime dispute involving the country and her neighbour Cote d’Ivoire.
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) ruled that Ghana didn't violate Cote d’Ivoire’s rights by drilling for oil in the disputed maritime area.
By unanimous decision, the Special Chamber of ITLOS rejected Cote d’Ivoire’s claim that Ghana and her coastal lines are unstable.
The ITLOS also accepted Ghana's argument of adoption of equidistance method of delimitation of maritime boundary between it and Cote d’Ivoire.
However, this victory couldn't materialize without the joint minds of great legal team involving the former Attorney General Madam Marietta Brew and incumbent Attorney General Gloria Akufo representing the country during the arbitration process.
It is therefore in this respect that the Director of Operations of the People's Progressive Party (PPP) Nana Ofori Owusu is calling on President Nana Akufo-Addo to assemble "great minds" into the executive arm of government.
Commenting on the maritime case where Ghana is the ultimate winner, Nana Ofori Owusu noted that the case has opened the door for the President to utilize the best and intelligent people who are not necessarily politicians or member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in order for the nation to achieve great strides.
Nana Ofori indicated on Peace FM's flagship programme "Kokrokoo" that "there are Professors. There are practitioners in their field. They don’t want to be politicians. They just want to do their work but if we had called them to serve Ghana in the capacity of their knowledge to move the nation forward, we would all go a lot further if no one cared who gets the credit”.
To him, there's a winning formula that if the President adopts, Ghana's development will be swift and a better place it will be for all Ghanaians.
“I’ve seen a formula, which when applied; Ghana will always be a winner. This case involved politicians, lawyers, academicians, practitioners, surveyors and so forth. So, when you look at where we used the best minds that Ghana can offer and were taken to battle for us to emerge victors, then it means we have a formula. It was the formula involving politicians, lawyers, professionals, academicians, practitioners and the Ghanaian spirit that were backing this work that made us a winner.
“For Ghana to be winners, politicians, lawyers, academicians, practitioners came together to bring Ghana this victory. We have professionals with great minds who are not MPs but they can become Ministers and can help this country by bringing their minds and wisdom to bear for this country to progress”, he stated.
He however couldn't hide his delight over the outcome of the maritime dispute as he emphasized that he is "happy to be a Ghanaian. I’m proud to be a Ghanaian…The Ghanaian can do for self. It has been manifested because here was a clear case that we went for the pureness of the mind. We didn’t look at political colorization. We looked at gurus in their industry to go for this battle and have won it for Ghana”.
In his view, this should be the approach and character of the Government of Ghana to improve the economy.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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It is said that the way to tame your enemy is to befriend him but with open eyes. Tapping sharp minds in governance looks the best option but in the end it looks like poaching which weakens the other opposition parties. Care must also be taken not to surround oneself with all his enemies, that would be a recipe for obstruction and chaos.
I am happy Ghanaians are lauding the achievement in the Maritime Case with our neighbour from Cote d' Ivoire.This is a clearly case of team work and continuity to achieve a common goal for mother Ghana. This wonderful performance has made me believe that we as Ghanaians must revisit our debate about the Founder or Founder's of Ghana. As in the contemporary case, some people initiated the process for independence,sought additional opinions from other people who were brought on board.Eventually, the ultimate was achieved not by those who started the process but by those who joined later for the struggle.To some of us the ultimate was achieved with the work initiated from the beginning till the final day. This is why I am saying we have FOUNDERS for Ghana and not A FOUNDER. It would be very painful if in this maritime case we are going to forget about the hard work done by the former Attorney General and her team only to give all the credit to the current Attorney General who was the Agent as at the time the case was determined. Let us reflect on this issue and recognize the efforts of all others at any particular time.