Ghana has achieved a major diplomatic and legal milestone following the election of Dr. Sylvia Ama Adusu as the first African woman to serve as a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
Dr. Adusu secured an overwhelming 130 votes from United Nations Member States during elections held at the 36th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at the UN Headquarters in New York. Her victory exceeded the required two-thirds majority, reflecting strong international confidence in her legal expertise and professional record.
President John Dramani Mahama described the election as another significant achievement for Ghana on the global stage, congratulating Dr. Adusu for her historic accomplishment. He also commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Candidatures Bureau, staff of Ghana’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and other partners for their coordinated efforts in securing the country’s successful bid.
Dr. Adusu will serve a nine-year term (2026–2035) on the Hamburg-based tribunal, one of the world’s foremost judicial bodies responsible for resolving disputes concerning the interpretation and application of international maritime law under UNCLOS.
A distinguished international law expert, Dr. Adusu previously served as Ghana’s Chief State Attorney and Head of the International Law Division at the Attorney-General’s Department. Throughout her career, she played a key role in several landmark international legal cases, including Ghana’s successful maritime boundary dispute with Côte d’Ivoire before ITLOS, proceedings relating to the ARA Libertad case, and Ghana’s submissions on its extended continental shelf claims.
Her election has been widely celebrated across Ghana and the African continent as a breakthrough for women’s representation in international justice. It also reinforces Ghana’s long-standing reputation for producing distinguished jurists who contribute to the development of international law. Notably, Ghanaian jurist Judge Thomas Akwasi Mensah served as the first President of ITLOS following its establishment in 1996.
Legal analysts say Dr. Adusu’s appointment is expected to strengthen African representation within global judicial institutions while inspiring more women to pursue leadership roles in international law and diplomacy.
With her historic election, Ghana has once again demonstrated its growing influence in global governance, while reaffirming its commitment to promoting excellence and leadership on the international stage.
