Gov't Must Perform "Sacrifice" To Win Maritime Boundary Dispute! - Islamic Cleric

Before the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), will deliver its judgement on the maritime boundary case between Ghana and Ivory Coast this September, an Islamic Cleric cum soothsayer has advised the Nana Akufo-Addo led government on what to do to win the case.

According to Sham-una Ustarz Hunters, government has turned deaf ears to his numerous forecasts, but has warned that they will fail to win the case if they ignore his direction this time.

The two countries ended their oral submissions on the case earlier this year with strong arguments for their stance.

Ghana's Attorney General Gloria Akufo argued that the two countries already have an agreement on their maritime boundary, albeit informally.

Ivory Coast, on the other hand, rejected that claim, calling on the Chamber to declare that Ghana has indeed violated the sovereign rights of Ivory Coast when it unilaterally undertook drilling activities in that boundary.

Ivory Coast's agent and Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Adama Toungara, appealed to the court, "to declare and adjudge thirdly that Ghana has violated the provisional measures prescribed by this chamber by its order of 26th of April, 2015. And fourthly, and consequently, [A] to invite the parties to carry out negotiations in order to reach agreement on arrangements for reparations due to Cote D'Ivoire; and [B] to state that if they fail to reach an agreement within a period of six months as of the date of the judgment to be delivered by the special chamber, the chamber will determine the amount of compensation or the arrangements for reparations on the basis of additional recent documents dealing with the subject alone." 

Ghana in its final submission called on the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), not to be swayed by Ivory Coast's argument. The Attorney General and leader of Ghana's delegation to the ITLOS, Gloria Akuffo, told the Special Chamber that Ivory Coast was trying to move the boundary to the east to benefit from Ghana's oil reserves, saying, "they simply cannot escape from years of mutual practice, however hard they try, in implementation of and reinforced by their own official maps, laws and decrees".
 
"It was easy to lose count of the different ways in which they tried to portray the coast. Arrows went one way and then the other, coastal directions twisting and turning; land was added; land was removed, depending on what point they wanted to make at any particular moment," she added.

However, Sham-una Ustarz Hunters told Peacefmonline.com in an interview that, Ghana's Attorney-General must seek spiritual assistance if indeed she wants to win the case.

"Attorney General needs to consult competent spiritualists for advice and sacrifices be made over the impending case, if not, they will see a different ball game. From my spiritual calculation and research, Cote d'Ivoire has an upper hand than Ghana in terms of victory as far as the issue is concern. The only option for Ghana is to sacrifice," he said. 

Adding that, "Besides, the time for the ruling will be postponed which is going to affect the success of Ghana. Even though, the attorney general is female, I advise that no female should lead the case spiritually if not, Ghana will laugh at the wrong side of her mouth."

"As to whether government will heed to the advice or not, Ghanaians and the world are my interest, that's my contribution in the case as a patriotic citizen of Ghana. Whatever the verdict may be, I shall remember government about my words. Allaah knows best".