Ghana has reaffirmed its strong commitment to upholding the principles of the International Criminal Court (ICC), as outlined in the Rome Statute, during a high-level meeting between the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, and the Prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Asad Ahmad Khan KC.
During the engagement, which took place at the Law House in Accra, the A.G. assured the ICC prosecutor that Ghana’s dedication to the court’s ideals remains unwavering, despite the fact that no Ghanaian citizen has been tried by the ICC to date.
Attorney General Dame remarked that Ghana’s democratic governance, built on accountability and the rule of law, plays a crucial role in deterring the kinds of international crimes the ICC seeks to address.
“For me, the strongest investment a nation can make, even if it is a state party to the ICC, is to have a system of governance that will curb abuse of power and impunity.
“When democracy reigns and is practiced in its purest form, it is actually the surest way of preventing any impunity and contributing to the work of the International Criminal Court.”
Godfred Yeboah Dame, Attorney General and Minister for Justice
Attorney General Dame explained that Ghana’s democratic governance is aligned with the ICC’s mission of bringing justice to those who commit egregious crimes, reinforcing the notion that domestic systems should be capable of preventing such offenses before international intervention is required.
In a significant move to strengthen Ghana’s alignment with the ICC, Godfred Dame revealed that his office had presented a bill to Parliament aimed at fully incorporating the Rome Statute into Ghanaian law.
This legislative effort is intended to ensure that the key crimes under the ICC’s mandate, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression, are integrated into domestic law.
“Genocide is already part of our domestic law, but this bill will incorporate the other crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity, ensuring that Ghana can try such offences domestically. “
If we are not able to try these offences ourselves, then, of course, the ICC can assume jurisdiction.”
Godfred Yeboah Dame, Attorney General and Minister for Justice
The Attorney General also underscored the importance of African nations incorporating the Rome Statute into their domestic legal frameworks. He argued that doing so would not only strengthen the sovereignty of these nations but also empower them to prosecute serious crimes within their own jurisdictions.
“I consider it offensive to the sovereignty of a nation to have crimes of such nature tried outside the jurisdiction,” Attorney General Dame remarked, emphasizing that domestic prosecution of such crimes should be prioritized over reliance on external courts.
ICC Prosecutor Praises Ghana’s Governance
Karim Asad Ahmad Khan KC, the ICC Prosecutor, echoed Godfred Dame’s sentiments, praising Ghana for its stable democratic governance, rule of law, and commitment to justice. Khan agreed that justice is best served at home and that the ICC should only intervene when a nation is either unwilling or unable to prosecute serious crimes.
“Justice is best served at home, and only when a country is proven to be unwilling or unable to serve justice should another court intervene,” Khan stated.
“You have so much to be proud of, quite frankly. The humility from Ghanaians sometimes means you take your achievements with such kindness that you don’t boast about them, but you have a lot to be proud of.”
Karim Asad Ahmad Khan KC, ICC Prosecutor
Khan’s visit to Ghana is part of a broader engagement with African countries, aimed at strengthening the relationship between the ICC and its member states on the continent. His trip was facilitated by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), where he is scheduled to give a series of lectures and participate in discussions on international justice.
The ICC’s mandate, while global, is closely tied to the national efforts of its member states. In countries like Ghana, where democracy and the rule of law remain pillars of governance, the work of the ICC is supported not just through rhetoric, but through tangible legislative and institutional reforms.
With the backing of the ICC and continued progress on the domestic front, Ghana is poised to remain a key player in the global fight against impunity and international crimes.
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