Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire discuss amicable solution to maritime boundary dispute

Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama and his Ivoirian counterpart, Alassane Ouattara, held bilateral talks on Wednesday on a number of issues of mutual interest, the presidency has said.

Among the key issues discussed was how the two countries can resolve amicably the maritime boundary dispute as well as to ensure the sub-regional security.

Mahama is on a two-day official visit to Cote d'Ivoire at the invitation of Ouattara.

The two leaders told the media at a press conference that their discussions also centered on boosting economic activities between the two countries and spearheading the regional integration efforts.

President Ouattara recognized President Mahama's role in developing a new spirit of cooperation between Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire.

Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire are at the International Tribunal for the Law of The Sea (ITLOS) over the demarcation of the maritime boundary between them.

Following Ghana's petition to ITLOS on the issue which had defied resolution at sub-regional and regional levels, Cote d'Ivoire filed an injunction appeal to the Tribunal to, among other things, direct Ghana to take all steps to suspend all ongoing oil explorations and exploitation operations in the disputed area.

The tribunal however ruled in April, last year, that Ghana could proceed with on-going field development projects in the disputed area.

It directed however that Ghana must ensure that no new drilling either by Ghana or under its control took place in the disputed area.

Former United Nations' Secretary General Kofi Annan brokered a meeting in May 2015 between the two presidents Mahama and Ouattara, seeking to ensure continued peaceful coexistence between the two neighboring countries.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mahama received the ceremonial key to the city of Abidjan and was also made an honorary citizen of Cote d'Ivoire. Endit