Ghana says will “carefully consider” UN court order on release of Argentine ship
Ghana says it has noted the unanimous decision by the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea ordering the country to release the Argentine navy ship, ARA Libertad.
The UN court on December 15, 2012 ordered Ghana to “forthwith and unconditionally release the Argentine frigate ARA Libertad and shall ensure that the ARA Libertad Commander and crew are able to leave the Port of Tema and the maritime areas of jurisdiction of Ghana and the frigate resupplied to that end.”
A statement issued by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry after the court order said it “will carefully consider the Tribunal’s Order with a view to ensuring that it is given effect, having regard to the requirements of the Constitution and the country’s international obligations.”
The UN court order for the release of the ship is against a Ghana court ruling which asked the government of Argentina to pay their debt to NML Capital before the country can let go the ship.
This, according to the Ghana government, places the “Government of Ghana in a very delicate situation on the account of the strong and positive relations we enjoy with Argentina.”
Ghana insists that it does not consider itself to be in dispute with Argentina.
Ghana says it regrets “this matter has come to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.”
By Ekow Quandzie