Togo Reaffirms Commitment to ‘Justice and Equity’ After Ghana Refers Maritime Dispute to Arbitration

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Thursday, 26 February 2026 14:33

Togo Reaffirms Commitment to ‘Justice and Equity’ After Ghana Refers Maritime Dispute to Arbitration

(Togo First) - The Togolese government this week formally responded to Ghana’s decision to refer their maritime border dispute to international arbitration. The notification, received on Feb. 20, marks a turning point in a case that has stalled after nearly eight years of bilateral talks.

Dispute Moves to Arbitration

The dispute stems from a series of maritime incidents between November 2016 and May 2018 in an area where the boundary has yet to be delimited. In June 2018, Lomé and Accra launched formal negotiations through Togo’s National Maritime Boundary Commission (CNFMT) and the Ghana Boundary Commission.

In 2019, both sides pledged to refrain from any action at sea that could undermine a spirit of goodwill and peace. Ghana’s decision to submit the case under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) now brings the purely bilateral process to an end.

In a communiqué, the Togolese government said it was “taking note” of the move while reaffirming its “commitment to resolving maritime disputes in accordance with the principles of justice and equity.”

High Economic Stakes

Beyond maritime delimitation, the dispute has major implications for economic sovereignty. The contested area lies within a sedimentary basin believed to hold significant oil and gas reserves. The lack of a clearly defined boundary has discouraged international oil companies from investing, given the legal uncertainty.

Despite the dispute, the two Gulf of Guinea neighbours remain closely integrated economically. Ghana is one of Togo’s main trading partners within ECOWAS, with steady trade flows and ongoing technical cooperation in energy and telecommunications.

A resolution could help stabilise maritime investment and support coordinated fisheries management in this part of the Gulf of Guinea.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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