1. Executive Council Simulation – Ghana – Background Document
by 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 Cuba
Good Allies: Australia, Brazil, and Japan
Good Relations: China and Russia
Troubled 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.