[contextly_sidebar id=”8msW4rmqEFsyVodqGGCkPlbw26KddJno”]This was after Ivory Coast filed an injunction appeal to the Tribunal to among other things, direct Ghana to take all steps to suspend all on-going oil exploration and exploitation operations in the disputed area and refrain from granting any new permit for oil exploration and exploitation in the disputed area.<\/p>\n
Some have suggested<\/strong><\/span><\/a> that while the hearing of the case is still on-going, Ghana should be open to other diplomatic channels to resolve the matter so as to prevent any dire repercussions.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we should shut firm all back channels of solving this matter and it shouldn\u2019t be open at all,\u201d KT Hammond has cautioned.<\/p>\n He remarked on Eyewitness News<\/strong> that \u201cif you are dealing with people who really don\u2019t appreciate the seriousness of a situation as this, why don\u2019t you just go for the ultimate and that is what we\u2019ve done.\u201d<\/p>\n Ivory Coast is fighting Ghana over a maritime boundary and after years of unsuccessful bilateral talks, Ghana initiated the arbitration proceedings under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).<\/p>\n K. T. Hammond has insisted that Ghana made a very good move after years of unnecessary manoeuvrings from the Ivoirians.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that was a good move and I think we should leave it there and what if the Ivoirians will come back? We don\u2019t want any compromises that give any drop of our oil to them. We will not agree!\u201d he fumed.<\/p>\n He disclosed that the substantive case might be concluded by 2017 \u201cand it\u2019s about precisely around that time 2017-2018 that this company [Tullow] is projected to do other things\u2026We haven\u2019t lost anything at all, it will not affect any projection\u201d and urged Ghana to stick to its guns and continue with the case.<\/p>\n He recalled that this boundary dispute has been on-going since 2009, 2010 and Ivory Coast has failed in all their attempts.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve changed the rules, they changed the goal post and sometimes they even changed the dimensions and the playing field itself and it makes it difficult dealing with them. They\u2019ve gone various miles and decided on various rules of engagement and in fact, they are just taking all of us for a ride,\u201d he narrated.<\/p>\n He stressed that \u201cthe good thing that we did was ultimately we thought that enough was enough and then we sent everybody packing to ITLOS.\u201d<\/p>\n The former Deputy Minister questioned why the Ivory Coast agreed to the boundary demarcations until Ghana found oil in the late 2000s.<\/p>\n \u201cSince the 1960s, they knew what was at stake! They knew about the margin lines, the maritime area where demarcations were drawn. We were to operate on a particular side and they were happy to operate on their own side of it. There was no problem when we had no oil. Since when have we not explored for oil in this country? In the 60\u2019s through the 80\u2019s until our time when we found oil.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of a sudden, the Ivoirians are up and they are telling us that they do not respect any conventions, any lines, nothing!\u201d<\/p>\n K. T. Hammond was convinced that it is clear the case of Ivory Coast \u201cis distinguished by hopelessness\u2026We have won so be happy and rejoice.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana![\"KT](\"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/kt-hammond.jpg\")
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