New york: Dr Sylvia Ama Adusu, a Chief State Attorney of Ghana, has been elected as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

According to Ghana Web, Dr Adusu's election marks a significant milestone as she becomes the first African woman to serve as a judge on the international tribunal. Her historic election took place during the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at the UN Headquarters in New York. She secured the position with an impressive 130 out of 169 votes cast, surpassing the required two-thirds majority of 113 votes.

Before her election, Dr Adusu held the position of Chief State Attorney and was the Head of International Law in the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice of Ghana. Her candidacy was endorsed by the African Union, making her the first Ghanaian woman nominated for the ITLOS election.

The mission noted that Dr Adusu brings over 30 years of legal experience, specializing in international law, civil litigation, criminal prosecution, and arbitration. Her academic credentials include a PhD in International Law from Lancaster University, 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 international tribunals and jurisdictions such as the United States and Norway. She has also served on a quasi-judicial panel of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission and participated in national committees and boards.

Her involvement in Law of the Sea matters dates back to 2007, where she played a pivotal role in Ghana's maritime boundary dispute case against C´te d'Ivoire at ITLOS and contributed to the ARA Libertad case involving Argentina and Ghana. Additionally, she worked on Ghana's submission for the extension of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.

Internationally, Dr Adusu represented Ghana at the International Court of Justice concerning climate change advisory opinion requests. She also contributes to legal education as a part-time lecturer at the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law, teaching Law of the Sea and Civil Procedure.

Dr Adusu's achievements have been recognized nationally, earning her the Companion of the Order of the Volta for her role in the Ghana-C´te d'Ivoire maritime dispute. As a newly elected judge, she is expected to contribute significantly to ITLOS's work in promoting peaceful dispute resolution, maritime governance, and the protection of marine resources.