Ghana’s Mensa-Bonsu fails to get nod for ICC Judge

Ghanaian Professor, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu has failed in her bid to be elected as a Judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Prof. Mensa-Bonsu was up against 11 others who were competing for six slots at the International Criminal Court.

Two other Africans – Reine Alapini-Gansou from Benin and Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda – were, however, elected as Judges for the ICC.

The two are joined by Tomoko Akane from Japan, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza, Peru, Kimberly Prost from Canada and Rosario Salvatore Aitala from Italy.

Prof. Mensa-Bonsu was highly tipped to be elected a Judge at the ICC after she was placed on the list ‘A’ for the elections held during the 16th session of the Assembly of States Parties, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had pledged support for the Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu.

The President of the Commission of the regional organisation, Marcel de Souza, stated on Friday, 24 November 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria, while speaking with Edward Mahama, Special Envoy of the Ghanaian Head of State, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

He promised to inform and request the support of the ECOWAS Member States and the African Union for the candidacy of Mrs Mensa-Bonsu as a Judge at the ICC, despite the late announcement.

William Nyarko, Executive Director of the Africa Center for International Law and Accountability told Starr News that Prof. Mensa-Bonsu failed partly because she was not endorsed by the African Union.

According to Mr. Nyarko, AU threw its support behind candidates from Benin, Uganda and Lesotho.

“Our candidate from Ghana Prof. Mensa-Bonsu did well, she put up a good fight but there were things that went against her, one of it was that she wasn’t endorsed by the African union. The African union endorsed three candidates from Uganda, Benin and Lesotho.”