Ghana Begins Steps To Free Argentine Navy Ship

Ghana says it is taking steps to implement the ruling of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea.
The ruling which ordered the West African state to immediately and unconditionally release an Argentine navy ship that was arrested at the eastern sea port of Tema since 2 October.
Foreign Minister, Muhammad Mumuni, said on Monday that the Attorney-General's office had started moves to file a motion at the Supreme Court to quash a High Court ruling.

Ghana says it is taking steps to implement the ruling of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea.
The ruling which ordered the West African state to immediately and unconditionally release an Argentine navy ship that was arrested at the eastern sea port of Tema since 2 October.
Foreign Minister, Muhammad Mumuni, said on Monday that the Attorney-General's office had started moves to file a motion at the Supreme Court to quash a High Court ruling.
The ruling that upheld a suit by a foreign private company, NML Capital, seeking to seize the ship in payment for about 350 million dollars debt it is owed by the South American country.
Mumuni said Ghana respected its judiciary and its decisions and the government would have to go through the normal process of overturning the High Court ruling for the ship to be freed as demanded by the Hamburg-based tribunal.
Ghana said on Saturday that it would ensure that the order of the Hamburg-based International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea to release the ship, ARA Libertad, would be implemented.
An official statement issued in Accra by Mr. Chris Kpodo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, reiterated that the arrest of the Argentine vessel arose from a dispute between Argentina and a private foreign company, NML Capital, adding “the Government of Ghana is not a party to that dispute’’.
“However, in as much as we are firmly committed to the rule of law and our own Constitution, we are also firmly committed to our international obligations.
“The Government of Ghana 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 statement said. (PANA/NAN)