Abuja, 25 November 2017. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has pledged support for the Ghanaian, Prof Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu for the post of Judge (on list A) at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The President of the Commission of the regional organisation, Marcel de Souza, stated this 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 ECOWAS Member States and the African Union for the candidacy of Mrs Mensa-Bonsu for the post, despite the late announcement of the candidacy.

He urged the Special Envoy of the Ghanaian President to ask President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to make a case for the Ghanaian candidate before his African and European counterparts at the 5th African Union-European Union Summit scheduled for 29 – 30 November 2017 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

“I will engage in necessary advocacy and lobbying with ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to support your candidacy, despite the fact that time is short because of the late announcement of your candidacy, given that the next West African Heads of State Summit will be held on December 16, 2017, ˮ he said.

Elections for ICC judges will be held from 4 to 14 December 2017, at the 16th session of the Assembly of States Parties, which will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.

Apart from the Ghanaian Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, on list A, the Beninese Reine Alapini Gansou is also a candidate for the post of judge at the ICC, but on list B.

Marcel de Souza expressed the hope to see the two candidates from the Community appointed to the positions which will be an honour to ECOWAS. He hoped that in future, West African citizens vying for positions will announce their candidacies well in advance.