Ghana’s Candidate For UNCLOS Position Lawrence Apaalse Outlines Vision

Ghana’s candidate for the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), Lawrence Asangongo Apaalse, has pledged his commitment to fast-track the evaluation of submissions to the Commission if he is elected.

The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), is one of the three institutions created under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Commission plays two significant roles in the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles of a Coastal State.

First, the CLCS is tasked to evaluate the claim of a Coastal State for an area of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.

Second, the CLCS may, upon request, also provide scientific and technical advice to the Coastal State in its preparation of its submission of the claim.

Mr. Apaalse, a former Chief Director at Ghana’s Ministry of Energy, is among candidates from across the world who are contesting to be commissioners of CLCS United Nations Convention on Law Of the Sea.

Mr. Apaalse played a key role in securing victory for Ghana against Ivory Coast in 2017 during the three-year Ghana-Ivory Coast maritime dispute.

Delivering a speech at a short ceremony organised by Ghana’s Embassy in the New York City, USA, Mr Apaalse said he has learnt a lot of lessons since 2006 when he started following the State parties’ meetings and would bring his experiences to bear if he is elected.

Touching on his vision, Mr Apaalse said one of the things he would do is to help accelerate the pace of evaluation of submissions to the Commission.

He noted that most of the submissions have remained on the shelves for several years, noting that it was about time these submissions were evaluated

Mr Apaalse holds a Master of Science Degree in Petroleum Geology and a Master of Science Degree in Micropaleontology from the Russian State University of Oil and Gas and University College London respectively.

The election is scheduled for Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com