Executive Council Simulation – Ghana – Background Documentby John David Garrett

CTBT Activities

Ghana signed the CTBT on October 3rd, 1996 and ratified it on June 14th, 2011. In 2011, it hosted a regional training course on national data centre capacity building, training participants to make efficient use of IMS data and IDC products. It is not an Annex 2 state, and does not possess nuclear weapons. Though, it does have a research reactor and did announce at the IAEA its intention to build a nuclear reactor to meet its energy needs.

Ghana has been a signatory of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty since 1970. It has signed but not ratified the Treaty of Pelindaba, which would create an African nuclear weapon free zone.

Geography/People/Economy

Ghana is located along the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. It has a population of about 27 million people, a land mass of 238,535 km2, and is bordered by three countries – Togo to the east, Burkina Faso to the north, and Côte d'Ivoire to the west. Its capital is Accra. The official language is English, but it is made up of at least eight notable ethnic groups speaking at least 14 national languages. It is one of if not the largest producer of cocoa, and is also a significant producer of gold, diamonds, oil, and natural gas.

Political Background

Ghana is the regional economic and military hegemon. It became independent of the United Kingdom in 1957, but remains a part of the Commonwealth. Its President and Commander-in-Chief is John Dramani Mahama. Its Minister of Foreign Affairs is parliament member Hanna Serwaa Tetteh. The country is being used as a conduit for drug-trafficking and has trouble controlling this problem.

Nuclear

Ghana was one of the five founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) of states created in 1961. The Non-Aligned Movement has officially made a strong, consistent call to ban all testing and proliferation of nuclear weapons, but has made an equally strong argument that it is the sovereign right of all states to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear energy without the interference of any other state/entity. Ghana is a rank-and-file supporter of NAM's stated commitment.

Ghana is also a member of the G24, the African Union, and ECOWAS. It has never chaired the NAM nor the G24, but did chair the African Union from 2007-2008 and ECOWAS from 1994-1996, from 2003-2005, and from 2014-2015.

Foreign Relations

Strong Allies: United States, India, Iran, and CubaGood Allies: Australia, Brazil, and JapanGood Relations: China and RussiaTroubled Relations: Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria

Summary

Ghana would most likely push to approve Equilibria's request for an on-site inspection of Frisia. It should rally support in NAM, and from that base try to extend support in the other CTBT groupings and through its allies.