Ghana court refuses to release Argentine warship

A Ghana court has today Thursday October 11, 2012 refused to free the Argentine warship, the Libertad. The vessel was detained in the country last week following a court order sought by NML Capital Ltd, a subsidiary of US hedge fund, Elliott Management, after the Latin American nation failed to pay its 2002 debt.

Argentina had earlier accused the Ghana court of violating rules of diplomatic immunity but the BBC reports that the judge that sat on the case today said Argentina had waived immunity as part of its loan deal.

Meanwhile, lawyers acting for the Argentine vessel, according to the BBC report, have also put in a plea for the warship to be allowed to refuel to keep the vessel’s engines running and to service the crew.

The judge asked lawyers for both sides to come to an agreement on that request, the report added.

The Libertad was in Ghana to offer some navy training. The 103-meter-long sailing ship left Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires on June 2 and was carrying a reported total crew of 220, including 69 members of the Argentine Navy and 110 students.

By Ekow Quandzie