Ghana told - release Argentine tall ship

2012-12-16 16:37

(AP)

Accra - Ghana's government says it will abide by a UN Tribunal's order for the immediate release of an Argentine navy training ship seized two months ago.

In a statement signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Chris Kpodo, the government says it was bound to a decision by the High Court to detain the ship, but that it also respects international obligations.

The ARA Libertad training ship was impounded October 2 in the port of Tema at the behest of private creditors as collateral for unpaid bonds dating from Argentina's economic crisis a decade ago. Argentina appealed to the UN's International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for the ship's release, arguing that as a warship the Libertad is immune from being seized.

In an expedited ruling, the court ordered its unconditional release.

- SAPA