ICC President lauds Ghana’s support for Rome Statute

The President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Chile Eboe-Osuji, has praised Ghana for showing strong leadership and encouraging other countries across the world to adhere to the ideals of the Rome Statute which is a treaty underpinning the formation of the international judicial system.

Paying a courtesy call on Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, for the first time as ICC president after his election in March this year, Mr Eboe-Osuji expressed satisfaction about how swiftly Ghana internalised the operations and processes of the court.

“I think I stand on solid ground to say that Ghana already has the buy-in to the ICC. Ghana has shown strong leadership in supporting the court in encouraging the rest of the world to do so. Ghana was one of the first countries to ratify the Rome Statute and bring the ICC into operation - and I thought it right and proper to come by and visit Ghana for the very first time in my capacity as President of the court and pay a visit to you and other leaders of the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ms Ayorkor Botchwey has called on the ICC to support Ghana in building the capacity of judges across the country.

“I’m hoping that your being here will start some kind of a relationship not just with government but also with the Judiciary - some form of capacity building, I’m hoping so that they will also have a good understanding, I’m sure they already do what you do so they are able to complement your work as and when it becomes necessary,” she appealed.

Mr Eboe-Osuji will later have an engagement with President Nana Akufo-Addo as part of his working visit to Ghana after an earlier engagement with Ghana’s Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo.