President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo returned home, on Sunday, from the United States, after attending the 72nd UN General Assembly meeting in New York.
Information Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, who briefed the media when the President arrived, said President Akufo-Addo and his Ivorian counterpart, Alhassane Quatarra, met at the sidelines of the meeting and pledged to abide by the judgement of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on the maritime dispute between their nations.
The Special Chamber of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), unanimously ruled in favour of Ghana in the three-year-long maritime dispute between their countries.
The Chamber’s decision, on Saturday September 23, stated that there had not been any violation on the part of Ghana on Côte d’Ivoire’s maritime boundary.
It rejected Côte d’Ivoire’s argument that Ghana’s coastal lines were unstable.
It also ruled that Ghana had not violated its Western neighbour’s sovereign rights with its oil exploration in the disputed basin
The two leaders, the Information Minister said, also agreed to collaborate to stabilise the international market for Cocoa.
Whilst at the meeting, President Akufo-Addo gave a roundly applauded speech on behalf of Ghana, outlining his Government’s vision to fully reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) set by the UN.
He told the Assembly that Ghana was making progress socially, economically and democratically, assuring that the country would continue to remain a beacon of democracy and stability on the African Continent.
“Our institutions of state are growing stronger, and we n have made more progress with our economy than at any time since independence…and we are working to open up opportunities for progress and prosperity for all our citizens,” he said, in his maiden address at the UN as Head of State of the Republic of Ghana.
“We want to build a Ghana beyond aid and we are determined to realise our potential and make Ghana a prosperous nation.”
President Akufo-Addo advocated the urgent reformation of the world body to deepen and promote international cooperation, peace and security, saying, “We cannot continue to preach democracy and fairness around the world, we cannot insist on peace and justice around the world, when our global organisation is not seen by the majority of its members as having a structure that is just and fair.”
“It is, indeed, seen by many as helping to perpetuate an unfair world order,” he emphasised.
The President used the occasion to rally the African Continent to shed its “cloak of poverty” and assume its rightful place on the World stage.
“We believe it is time Africa comes of age and holds its rightful place on the world stage. This Africa will be neither a victim nor a pawn. This Africa will be honest to itself and to the world, and this Africa will shed its cloak of poverty, and become prosperous.”
President Akufo-Addo, who led a strong government delegation to the meeting, took part in several side events, delivered a speech on the theme: “Africa Beyond Aid”, at the fifth Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development, at the Earth Institute, Columbia University, in New York.
He also, with eight other African leaders, held talks on US-Africa relations with the American President, Donald Trump.
He also met with other world leaders, and investors, as well stakeholders in the Cocoa arena.
The President, also on the sidelines of the Assembly, received the 2017 Africa-America Institute’s (AAI) National Achievement Award on behalf of Ghanaians.
The award is in recognition of Ghana’s status as a free and democratic country in Africa.
The President was met on arrival by the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Service Chiefs, the Chief of Staff, the Ministers of Information, Defence, National Security, the Interior, Aviation, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as some senior government officials.
Source: GNA
