Ghanaian legal expert Dr Sylvia Ama Adusu has been elected as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), becoming the first African woman to serve on the Hamburg-based international judicial body for the 2026–2035 term.
Her election took place on 18 June 2026 at the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. She secured 130 votes out of 169 cast, surpassing the required two-thirds majority of 113 votes.
Dr Adusu will serve a nine-year term beginning on 1 October 2026. ITLOS judges adjudicate disputes relating to the interpretation and application of UNCLOS, including maritime boundaries, navigation rights, marine resources, and environmental protection.
A seasoned international law practitioner, she is a former Chief State Attorney and Head of the International Law Division at Ghana’s Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice. She holds a PhD in International Law from the University of Lancaster, United Kingdom, where her research focused on the delimitation and conservation of marine resources in the Gulf of Guinea under UNCLOS.
She also lectures part-time on the Law of the Sea at the University of Ghana and teaches Civil Procedure at the Ghana School of Law. In addition, she has presented academic papers on international maritime law.
Dr Adusu has represented Ghana before domestic superior courts, international tribunals, and foreign jurisdictions including the United States and Norway. Her administrative experience includes serving as Solicitor Secretary of the Lands Commission and contributing to various national boards and committees.
Since 2007, she has been actively involved in international maritime legal work. She played a key role in Ghana’s maritime boundary dispute with Côte d’Ivoire before ITLOS, contributed to the ARA Libertad (Argentina v Ghana) prompt release proceedings, and supported Ghana’s submission on its extended continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. She has also participated in advisory proceedings before the International Court of Justice on climate change.
Her election reflects strong confidence from States Parties in her expertise, integrity, and commitment to international law. It also highlights the importance of equitable geographical and gender representation in global judicial institutions.
Dr Adusu’s appointment continues Ghana’s legacy in international adjudication. Ghanaian jurist Justice Thomas Aboagye Mensah was among the first judges of ITLOS in 1996 and served as its first President from 1996 to 1999, helping to establish the foundation of the tribunal.
Her election marks both a historic breakthrough for African women in international judicial service and a continuation of Ghana’s longstanding contribution to the development of the law of the sea.
