Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has called on the international community to deepen practical support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), insisting that the Court “cannot fight impunity alone” in an increasingly volatile global environment.

He made the call during the Twenty-Fourth Session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute, held at the World Forum in The Hague from Monday, 1 to Saturday, 6 December 2025.

Dr Ayine reaffirmed Ghana’s “firm commitment to the Rome Statute system” and to a global order built on justice, accountability, and respect for human dignity.

He commended the leadership of Ambassador Päivi Kaukoranta, the Bureau, the President of the Court Judge Tomoko Akane, and the ICC Secretariat for what he described as “sterling stewardship” of the Court’s affairs.

Stronger ICC

According to him, the world is witnessing “increasingly complex threats” to peace and security, characterised by conflicts, grave violations of humanitarian law, and sophisticated attempts to evade accountability.

These trends, he said, demand concrete, actionable measures to strengthen the ICC’s independence, operational capacity, and ability to deliver justice to victims.

He endorsed this year’s ASP theme — “Concrete Measures to Strengthen the International Criminal Court” — stressing that principled support must be matched with practical reforms.

Democratic consolidation

Dr Ayine reaffirmed Ghana’s long-standing position that universality remains critical to building a credible and impartial international criminal justice system. He commended Ukraine’s accession as the 125th State Party to the Rome Statute, calling it a significant step towards broader global acceptance of the Court’s mandate.

On Africa–ICC relations, the Attorney General emphasised that the best support African states can provide to the ICC is the strengthening of democratic governance at home. Genuine democracy, he argued, eliminates the conditions that breed impunity:

“When democracy reigns in its true form, free expression, security, adherence to constitutional limits and fulfilment of citizenship rights — the circumstances that attract ICC intervention will not exist.”

He further urged African countries to establish robust justice systems and investigative capacities and to domesticate the Rome Statute or pass specific legislation on war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

This, he noted, is essential for effective complementarity, which places primary responsibility for prosecuting international crimes on national jurisdictions.

ICC’s global engagement

Beyond the continent, Dr Ayine welcomed the ICC’s expanding footprint across different regions. New investigations, strengthened field offices and broader engagement, he said, help reinforce the perception that “international crimes know no geographical boundaries” and that the Court’s mandate applies universally, not disproportionately to Africa.

Threats, sanctions, and cyber-attacks

The Attorney General expressed deep concern over the rising attacks, threats, and sanctions directed at ICC officials, UN mandate holders, and civil society groups who cooperate with the Court.

Such actions, he warned, “undermine judicial independence and threaten the global fight against impunity.”

He described the recent malicious cyber-attack attempting to infiltrate ICC systems as part of a worrying trend:

“These developments highlight the urgent need to fortify the Court’s digital resilience and enhance the protection of its personnel and partners.”

He called for the lifting of all measures that impede the Court’s officials, insisting that no political, financial, or technological intimidation should be tolerated.

Review process, fair representation

He also applauded the ongoing Review Mechanism, Working Groups, and the Independent Oversight Mechanism for advancing reforms aimed at improving governance, cooperation, and prosecutorial procedures at the Court.

Dr Ayine also stressed the importance of equitable geographic and gender balance in ICC recruitment processes, arguing that diversity enhances efficiency, impartiality, and representation across the Rome Statute community.

International criminal justice scholarship

He highlighted Ghana’s continued contributions through the Africa Centre of International Criminal Justice (ACICJ) at GIMPA Law School, citing visits by former ICC President Hofmanski and Prosecutor Karim Khan as evidence of intense collaboration.

Dr Ayine announced the launch of the African Journal of International Criminal Justice (AJICJ) in October 2025, describing it as a key platform for advancing legal scholarship and practitioner engagement across the continent.

The Attorney General further expressed Ghana’s appreciation to the Government and People of the Netherlands for their continued support in hosting the ICC.