Ghana sets sights on exclusive access to additional 150 nautical miles of seabed

In a historic move, Ghana has lodged a submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to extend access to additional areas of seabed, potentially by an extra 150 nautical miles.

By extending the area of its continental shelf from 200nm to a possible 350nm under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Ghana would gain exclusive sovereign rights to explore and exploit a wealth of natural resources.

Ghana, not the Commission, will set the outer limits of the continental shelf “on the basis of the Commission’s recommendations” which are “final and binding”.

“As Ghana joins the list of other coastal countries which have already lodged their submissions, it is pertinent to note that we are witnessing the most significant and peaceful acquisition of territory by states during peace time,” explains Judy Ndaona, Legal Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat, who helped Ghana prepare its submission.

“It is a truly remarkable achievement for countries to acquire thousands of square kilometres of seabed and subsoil without the use of arms.”

This submission was the result of a project involving technical, scientific and legal advice from a range of Ghana’s government agencies as well as external institutions. Ghana emphasised that the submission was “prepared notwithstanding significant challenges posed by technical capacity and financial resources. In this regard, Ghana has received technical assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources during the preparation of the submission.”

“For the greater part of this decade, the Secretariat has been encouraging member countries to prepare and submit their claims for additional seabed in order to maximise their maritime areas and the potential benefits that come with them,” said Ms Ndaona.

Secretariat Links:

• Country Profile: Ghana
• Law