Ghanaian Lawyer Evelyn Ama Ankumah Appointed ICC Special Adviser
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has appointed Ghanaian international lawyer and human rights advocate, Evelyn Ama Ankumah, as a Special Adviser without portfolio to the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) in The Hague, Netherlands.
Ms. Ankumah, founder of Africa Legal Aid (AFLA), is one of two distinguished African legal experts selected for the role, alongside Judge Sanji Monageng from Botswana.
Announcing the appointments on Tuesday, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan emphasized their critical contributions to international justice. “Their expertise will significantly enhance the Office’s work on critical issues. Their involvement will undoubtedly provide tremendous benefits to our Rome Statute stakeholders and staff,” he stated.
Ms. Ankumah has an extensive legal background spanning Africa, Europe, and North America, with a strong focus on gender-sensitive and victim-centered approaches to international criminal justice. She has played a key role in shaping legal frameworks such as the Review of the Kampala Amendments on the Crime of Aggression and leads the Gender Mentoring Training Programme for Judges.
Her contributions extend to academia and publishing, having authored a seminal book on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and published over 40 editions of the AFLA Quarterly journal. She also played a pivotal role in the establishment of the International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA) and is a member of the International Gender Champions Network.
Judge Sanji Monageng brings over 30 years of legal and human rights experience, having served as an ICC Judge from 2009 to 2018 in roles such as Appeals Division Judge and First Vice President. She has also served as a judge in Eswatini and The Gambia, in addition to chairing the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In recognition of her contributions to justice, she received the Human Rights Award from the International Association of Women Judges in 2014.
The ICC describes Special Advisers as professionals with outstanding credentials who serve pro bono to strengthen the OTP’s capacity in key legal, cultural, and gender-related areas. Their expertise reinforces the Court’s ability to fulfill its mandate under the Rome Statute.
The appointments of Ms. Ankumah and Judge Monageng reflect the ICC’s commitment to diversity, specialization, and the advancement of international criminal justice.
