Ghana drags Togo to international arbitration over maritime border disputes

The Government of Ghana has initiated international arbitration to resolve its longstanding maritime boundary dispute with neighbouring Togo.

In a press statement dated Friday, February 20, 2026, the Presidency announced that Ghana has formally notified the Government of Togo of its decision to seek a binding legal determination under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“The Government of Ghana has served the Government of Togo with notice of its decision that the maritime boundary between Ghana and Togo be delimited by recourse to international arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” the statement said.

According to the government, the move follows years of failed negotiations between the two countries.

“This follows attempts at negotiating a boundary which have gone on for the past eight years but have not resulted in an agreed outcome,” the statement noted.

Tensions over the disputed maritime area intensified between 2017 and 2018 when Togolese authorities halted Ghanaian seismic vessels conducting deep-sea data acquisition activities near the contested zone.

The incidents heightened diplomatic strain and raised concerns among state institutions responsible for offshore resource management.

Explaining the rationale behind the arbitration, the government said the decision is aimed at preventing further strain and ensuring a peaceful settlement.

“Ghana has taken this step in order to avoid an escalation of incidents that have created tensions between some of our institutions and to promote an amicable resolution, thereby contributing to the continued good relations between our two countries,” the statement emphasised.

By opting for arbitration under UNCLOS, Ghana is seeking a definitive legal interpretation that will clearly demarcate the maritime boundary in accordance with international law.

The move signals a shift from prolonged bilateral engagement to a rules-based dispute resolution mechanism recognised globally.

International arbitration under UNCLOS provides for a binding decision by an independent tribunal.

Ghana’s filing marks a significant step in bringing clarity to a dispute that has lingered for nearly a decade.