Ghana Initiates International Arbitration with Togo Over Long-Standing Maritime Boundary Dispute
The Government of Ghana has formally notified Togo of its decision to refer their unresolved maritime boundary dispute to international arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), marking a significant escalation after eight years of bilateral negotiations failed to produce an agreement.
In a statement issued on Friday, February 20, 2026, and signed by Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu (Spokesperson to the President), Ghana confirmed it has served notice on Lomé to delimit the shared offshore boundary through binding arbitration. The move aims to secure a clear, rules-based determination while preventing further tensions and preserving the strong diplomatic ties between the two West African neighbours.
The dispute traces back to December 2017 and May 2018, when Togolese authorities intercepted and halted two Ghanaian seismic vessels conducting deep-sea data acquisition in waters approaching Togo’s territory.
The incidents occurred shortly after the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) resolved Ghana’s maritime boundary case with Côte d’Ivoire in Ghana’s favour in September 2017, prompting Togo to assert overlapping claims in the Gulf of Guinea area potentially rich in offshore hydrocarbon resources.
Despite multiple rounds of talks—including joint technical committees and high-level engagements—the two countries have been unable to reach a mutually acceptable delimitation. Ghana’s statement emphasized that arbitration is being pursued “to avoid an escalation of incidents that have created tensions between some of our institutions and to promote an amicable resolution.”
Key points from the government statement include:
The decision follows exhaustive but unsuccessful negotiations spanning eight years.
Arbitration under UNCLOS will provide a binding legal outcome in line with international law.
The process is intended to contribute to continued good relations between Accra and Lomé, avoiding confrontation.
The Gulf of Guinea region has seen several maritime boundary cases in recent decades, including Ghana’s successful ITLOS ruling against Côte d’Ivoire (which upheld Ghana’s oil exploration rights in the disputed zone). Ghana and Togo are both parties to UNCLOS, which provides mechanisms for compulsory dispute settlement, including arbitration, when bilateral efforts stall.
No immediate response from the Togolese government has been publicly reported as of February 20, 2026. The arbitration process, likely to involve the constitution of a tribunal (potentially under the Permanent Court of Arbitration or similar framework), could take months to years to conclude, involving submissions on historical agreements, equidistance principles, geography, and equitable considerations.
This development underscores ongoing challenges in delimiting maritime zones in resource-rich West African waters, where overlapping exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and continental shelves often intersect amid growing interest in oil, gas, and fisheries. Ghana has stressed its commitment to peaceful, legal resolution, aligning with broader regional stability efforts in ECOWAS and the African Union.
