Sophia Akuffo Tasks ICC

From right: Caecilia Wijgers, Acting Dutch Ambassador to Ghana;  Fatou Bensouda; Sophia Akuffo; Prof. Akua Kuenyhia; Prof. Philip Bondzi-Simpson, Acting Rector GIMPA and Ernest Kofi Abotsi, Dean, Faculty of Law, GIMPA

Incoming Chief Justice Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo has challenged the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) to begin an awareness creation campaign to educate the masses about international criminal justice and the operations as well as objectives of the court.

That, she said, would make global citizens better appreciate the work of the ICC to help remove its “abstract” connotations.

Justice Akuffo made the call on Wednesday in Accra while delivering the keynote address during the launch of African Centre on International Criminal Justice (ACICJ) at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

The centre, with an initial €100,000 funding by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is expected to promote learning in matters relating to international criminal justice and help address the perceived bias of the ICC towards the African continent.

According to the incoming Chief Justice of Ghana, the ICC should move from being perceived as an institution dedicated to delivering “international” justice and for that matter, a macro institution, to one that intimately relates to the people.

“For when the people begin demanding justice following acts and incidents of mass atrocities, the legitimacy of the ICC would become perceptible,” she stated.

Ms Sophia Akuffo urged the proponents of international criminal justice and the court should to “…start fomenting local groups and constituents within countries to function as advocates and educators of persons on international criminal justice in general, and the work of the ICC in particular.”

She strongly criticised opponents of the ICC on the African continent, especially nations that have declared their desire to withdraw from the Rome Statute which forms the basis for the formation of the court.

Opponents of the ICC, she said, had continued to exploit the controversies surrounding its creation for self-seeking advantage.

“As would be obvious to any keen observer, the sole gainers in a failed regime of international criminal justice are the abusers of human rights, criminals and perpetrators of crimes against humanity, who seek to leverage their power into assurance impunity.

She stressed that the ICC and proponents of the regime of international criminal justice need to sustain their efforts at building and maintaining both local and international confidence in the system.

Prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda, who graced the occasion, commended the incoming Chief Justice for supporting the cause of the ICC.

She acknowledged the crucial role Africa has played to both the establishment of ICC and the development of the international criminal justice system, but dispelled the perception that the court is biased towards Africa.

Prosecutor Bensouda pledged the support of the ICC towards the development of ACICJ and urged the youth across the continent to make use of the centre and as well contribute to the development of international justice.

Former Vice President of ICC, Prof. Akua Kuenyehia, who chaired the launch, explained that the centre has the unique opportunity to create awareness about the activities of the court.

 

BY Melvin Tarlue

 

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