Dr Sylvia Ama Adusu has been nominated by Ghana for election as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026–2035 term.

Her candidature has also been endorsed by the African Union.

According to Ghana’s mission to the UN, Dr Adusu is a chief state attorney with over 30 years of legal practice, with experience in international law, civil litigation, criminal prosecution, and arbitration.

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She currently heads the International Law Division at the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice.

Her academic background includes a PhD in International Law from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, an MPhil in International Relations from the University of Ghana, and further studies in international law and sustainable development in The Hague.

Dr Adusu has represented Ghana in both local and international courts, including appearances before international tribunals and foreign jurisdictions such as the United States and Norway.

She has also served on a quasi-judicial panel of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission and held roles on several national committees and boards.

She has been actively involved in Law of the Sea matters since 2007. She played a key role in Ghana’s maritime boundary dispute case against Côte d’Ivoire at ITLOS and contributed to the ARA Libertad case involving Argentina and Ghana.

She also worked on Ghana’s submission on the extension of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.

At the international level, she represented Ghana at the International Court of Justice in proceedings on climate change advisory opinion requests.

Dr Adusu also contributes to legal education as a part-time lecturer at the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law, where she teaches Law of the Sea and Civil Procedure.

Her work has earned national recognition, including the Companion of the Order of the Volta for her role in the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire maritime dispute.

If elected, Dr Adusu is expected to contribute to the work of ITLOS in promoting peaceful dispute resolution, maritime governance, and the protection of marine resources.

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Her nomination is the first time a Ghanaian woman has been nominated as a candidate for elections to the ITLOS.

International Lawyer with over three decades of experience in public international law, the law of the sea, international dispute settlement and treaty negotiation as well as domestic litigation. Demonstrates independence, sound judgment, and respect for the rule of law with a… pic.twitter.com/kfUG1SSg6V

— GhanaUN (@ghanamissionun) April 28, 2026