Ghana re-affirms total support for ICC

Accra, June 20, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday re-affirmed Ghana's total support for the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC).

He said the country would do whatever it could to enable the Court to dispense justice and help bring down impunity in the human society. President Kufuor was speaking when a delegation of the ICC, comprising the entire core staff, called to confer with him at the Castle, Osu.

Among them were the President of the Court, Mr Philippe Kissch, his Vice, Professor Akua Kuenyehia, Mr Luis Morcno Ocampo, the Prosecutor, Mr Fatou Bensouda, Deputy Prosecutor, and Mr Bruno Cathela, Registrar.

President Kufuor described the work of the ICC as very important, saying in the era of globalisation, the talk was now about human rights and values based on common humanity.

He said Africa, which was now into a renaissance was doing everything to promote good governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights and fight against impunity.

President Kufuor said it was through this that there would be peace on the continent for development to take place. Mr Kissch said the Court was grateful to Ghana for what he termed, "the persistent unqualified support."

Ghana, he said has been outstanding in its understanding of the need for the independence of the Court and lauded the respect for human rights in the country.

He said it was quite exceptional for the whole Court to move to a country the way, it has done, and that they were in to discuss some very important matters relating to Africa with President Kufuor, who Chairs the African Union (AU).