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Ivory Coast/Ghana: “War for oil” or good neighborhood

By on April 29, 2010
Ivory Coast and Ghana are potentially engaged in a wrestling-arm that could have serious consequences for their economies after the significant offshore oilfield discovery off their coasts.

In March, Ghana’s Minister for Natural Resources had made a strong statement that Abidjan is calling for a maritime space share with its neighbor as a result of this discovery. President Laurent Gbagbo had sent his Minister of Energy to the Ghanaian counterpart, John Atta Mills, to assure that there will be “No conflict for oil” into perspective. Nevertheless, both Capitals are considering very seriously this issue, although they hope to boost their development through the Gulf of Guinea oil wealth.
The two countries have decided to resort to a joint commission to delimit the maritime boundaries that have never been precisely plotted. Work has begun in Accra to decide the terms of negotiations, however, both parties have already made their demarcation proposals to the United Nations. One of the Abidjan advanced options is «a Common participation in all the proceeds for the exploitation of oil located within the concerned maritime space, with an equitable sharing of benefits”.
Beside this bilateral concern, the kingdom of Sanwi, South-east border of Ghana and Ivory Coast, is asking for its share through a tripartite agreement, and avoid the “irreparable”. The kingdom’s claim is done in the name of a protectorate treaty, concluded in 1843 with France, then colonial power, recognizing its internal sovereignty.

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