Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has implored the Governments’ of Venezuela and Guyana to utilize every conceivable diplomatic means to resolve the border dispute between the two nations.
He said the dispute if not fixed has the potential of threatening the peace and stability between the two countries.
Vice-President Amissah-Arthur was speaking when Mr Reinaldo Jose Bolivar, the Venezuelan Deputy Minister for Africa called on him at the Flagstaff House to deliver a special message from President Nicolas Maduro.
Ghana and Venezuela have had long standing diplomatic relations which dates back many years.
Vice-President Amissah-Arthur noted that the creation of artificial boundaries by the colonialists brought in its wake, disputes among countries especially in Africa and Latin American.
He said it takes tact and diplomacy between countries concerned and with the help of the International Community to resolve such issues, which most often than not lead to conflicts.
Vice-President Amissah-Arthur pleaded with the governments’ of the two countries not to trade accusations or mass troops along their borders since that would increase tension amongst their people.
He called on the two countries to resort to international arbitration to find amicable resolution to the impasse.
He cited for example that Ghana and Cote d Ivoire were before the International Arbitration Tribunal in the Hague to resolve boundary related dispute.
Vice-President Amissah-Arthur explained that the two countries have both presented their cases to the International tribunal for examination in order to reach an amicable resolution, which would be acceptable to both countries.
He pointed out that it would be against the dictates of international relations for any of the two countries to take the law into its hand and attempt to annex the area in dispute.
“The governments’ of Venezuela and Guyana should allow the rule of law to regulate and find lasting solution to the territorial dispute between them,” he said.
Mr Bolivar the Venezuelan government decided to visit Ghana due to its stature as the first African country south of the Sahara to gain political independence and also its contribution among the comity of nations.
“As a very prominent member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nation, we implore the government of Ghana to help us resolve the issue with Guyana which also belongs to the Commonwealth,” he said.
Source: GNA
