Ghana's Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Dame, has called for African countries to enact laws addressing genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.Speaking at the Annual Conference of States Parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC) held in The Hague, Netherlands, on Monday, November 2, the Attorney-General highlighted the need for robust legal frameworks in African nations to support the ICC’s mandate.

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He explained that this could be achieved "either through the domestication of the Rome Statute into our laws, so that national courts assume jurisdiction over offences created by the Rome statute, or the passage of a specific legislation affirming the creation of such offences with punishment duly prescribed according to international standards and a forum for punishment of same within our respective domestic legal jurisdictions duly

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stipulated."The Attorney-General also emphasized the importance of national jurisdictions having the capacity to investigate and prosecute international crimes effectively, as the ICC alone cannot address all international crimes.

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"The ICC by itself lacks the capacity to investigate and prosecute all international crimes committed in the territories of states," he said, adding that the Court must be seen as responsive to crimes committed anywhere in the world."The Court must be seen to have its searchlight everywhere and to be responsive to war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and the crimes of aggression committed anywhere without equivocation," he stated.<img

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alt="" class="wp-image-731103"/>He noted that Ghana believes "the best form of support for the ICC is by African nations consolidating democracy in their jurisdictions and avoiding conditions suggestive of impunity calling for the intervention of the ICC."Additionally, Mr. Dame called for fairness and equity in ICC staff recruitment, ensuring a wide

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geographical and gender balance while maintaining high standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity."This will no doubt give equal opportunity to competent nationals of all States Parties to bring their varied experiences and perspectives to bear at the Court to enhance institutional efficiency while ensuring impartiality in the workings of the Court," he explained.

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He expressed optimism for implementing the Moratorium on Recruitment of candidates from Non-States Parties and the new Tenure Policy of the Court, adding, "In this respect, we look forward to the effective implementation of the Moratorium on Recruitment of candidates from Non-States Parties and the new Tenure Policy of the Court."During his delivery, Mr.

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Dame congratulated Ambassador Päivi Kaukoranta and the Bureau for their leadership of the States Parties, acknowledging their efforts throughout the year.He also highlighted the ICC’s collaboration with the Africa Centre of International Criminal Justice (ACICJ) at the GIMPA Law School in Ghana.

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Established in May 2017, the Centre promotes international criminal law and justice in Africa and globally through research, capacity-building, and advocacy.The Attorney-General noted the visits of ICC President Piotr Hofmanski to the Centre in September 2022 and ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan in October 2024, where the latter delivered the Third Eminent Lecture on International Criminal Justice.Mr.

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Dame led Ghana’s delegation, which included Ghana’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Francis Danti Kotia, and Deputy Head of Mission, Yaowi Senalor.The Twenty-Third Session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague is scheduled to conclude on December 7, 2024.

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