Ghana says it will ensure that the Argentine navy ship that was arrested at the Tema harbour on October 2 is released as ordered on Saturday by the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea.
A statement issued by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Chris Kpodo, on Saturday night reiterated that Ghana was not a party to the dispute.
The ship, ARA Libertad, which arrived in Tema on October 1 on a goodwill mission to train Ghanaian naval personnel, was arrested on the orders of the High Court in a dispute between Argentina and NML Capital, which said the South American country owed it more than 350 million dollars in unpaid bond money.
"However, in as much as we are firmly committed to the rule of law and our own Constitution, we are also firmly committed to our international obligations.
"The Government of Ghana will carefully consider the Tribunal's order with a view to ensuring that it is given effect, having regard to the requirements of the Constitution and the country's international obligations,"the statement said.
The Hamburg-based tribunal in an unanimous decision on Saturday ordered Ghana to immediately and unconditionally release the Argentine frigate ARA Libertad and ensure that the ARA Libertad Commander and crew are able to leave the Port of Tema and the maritime areas of jurisdiction of Ghana and the frigate resupplied to that end.
The government's statement said: "It is pertinent to recall that the arrest of the Argentine vessel arises from a dispute between Argentina and a private foreign company. The Government of Ghana is not a party to that dispute.
"The Ghana High Court decision to detain the ARA Libertad placed the Government of Ghana in a very delicate situation on the account of the strong and positive relations we enjoy with Argentina. The Government of Ghana has always maintained that it does not consider itself to be in dispute with Argentina.
"Ghana cherishes its democratic credentials with a democratically elected government firmly committed to the rule of law and utmost respect for the separation of powers. It is for this reason that the Government of Ghana was bound to respect the decision of the High Court in Accra to detain the ARA Libertad."
The statement said under Ghana's Constitution the Executive branch of Government must have regard to the independence of the Ghanaian Judiciary.
Ghana also respected international obligations on the rule of law including the requirements to guarantee the independence of the Judiciary," it added.
Ghana said it regretted that this matter had come to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
"The Government of Ghana reiterates that all possible measures have been taken to preserve the health and safety of the 44 sailors on board the vessel. The Ports and Harbours Authority is providing the Argentine sailors access to all necessary facilities at the Port of Tema. The sailors themselves are not in detention and are free to go from the vessel as they please," the statement said.
About 280 sailors on the ship flew back home to Argentina on October 24, 2012.