General News of Sunday, 22 January 2017

Source: 3news.com

AG-designate to maintain Mahama’s team for Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire maritime dispute

Attorney General-designate, Gloria Akuffo Attorney General-designate, Gloria Akuffo

Attorney General-designate Gloria Afua Akuffo says she will maintain the team of experts set up by the previous government to resolve the maritime border dispute between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.

Asked during her vetting in Accra Saturday whether she will change the current team of experts if her appointment is approved, Ms Akuffo stated she is satisfied with the composition of the team and impressed with the work done so far.

“I have met with the team before the immediate past Attorney General left office in consultation with the president. I took the principled position that what is at stake is the interest of Ghana… The matter has reached a very advanced stage. I have found no need to change the composition of the team,” she said.

She said she has worked personally with the team, including the outgone AG, Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, saying, “I have worked and I continue to work closely with the immediate past attorney general”.

Ms Akuffo indicated she would be ever ready to work again with the Mrs Appiah-Oppong should she decide to join the team in the interest of Ghana.

“But for the sake of Ghana if the immediate past Attorney General is happy to come along I think that will seriously be considered”.

Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire entangled in a maritime boundary dispute likely to disrupt Ghana’s oil exploration around the disputed area.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in The Hague is adjudicating the dispute.