Accra, April 1, GNA - Mrs Justice Sophia O. A. Adinyira, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, has been elected to serve at the United Nations Appeals Tribunal as a Judge for a term of seven years. The effective date is July 1, 2009, a statement from the Information Services Department said in Accra on Wednesday. It said Justice Adinyira was one of seven Justices out of a total of 14 who were elected on the first round of balloting by the General Assembly of the UN after obtaining the required majority and the largest number of votes.

The final decision was taken after Justice Adinyira and the other candidates had undertaken rigorous written examinations and interviews before being short-listed and recommended by the United Nations Internal Justice Council (IJC) to the United Nations General Assembly. The statement said Justice Adinyira got elected on the basis of her excellent qualifications, experience and expertise.

"The very high number of votes Justice Adinyira obtained bears eloquent testimony not only to her own remarkable personal merit and track record, but also to Ghana's good standing at the United Nations." Added to this, the statement said, was the fact that voting was done on the basis of the principle of equitable regional balance, the endorsement of the Chief Justice of Ghana and the support of the Permanent Mission of Ghana at the United Nations General Assembly. The statement said the government and the people of Ghana wish to congratulate Justice Adinyira on her election to such a high office and also wish her a very successful term.