Accra, Oct. 8. Ghanaian Appeals Court judge and former ECOWAS Court of Justice President, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, has been elected to the Advisory Committee of the United Nations Human Rights Council, a prestigious 18-member body that serves as the Council’s think tank.
Justice Asante, who will serve a three-year term, renewable once, was among two African judges elected during the Council’s 60th session, which concluded on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, following Ghana’s strong nomination.
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Members of the Advisory Committee serve in their personal capacities and are nominated by UN Member States after consultations with national human rights institutions and civil society organisations. The committee’s membership is geographically balanced, with five from Africa and Asia-Pacific, three from Latin America and the Caribbean, and two from Western Europe and other regions.
In its nomination, Ghana described Justice Asante as a “distinguished jurist and seasoned international legal expert” with extensive experience in human rights law, international humanitarian law, and judicial administration.
“With over three decades of legal practice and judicial service, including as President and Judge of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Asante has demonstrated deep commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights across West Africa and beyond,” the letter noted.
Justice Asante, who served as President of the ECOWAS Court from August 2018 to October 2024, is credited with leading several key reforms, including the development and implementation of an Electronic Case Management System, presiding over landmark rulings on civil and political rights, and expanding access to regional justice through external court sessions.
His academic background includes training in public and private international law at the Hague Academy of International Law, alongside advanced courses in corporate risk management, judicial ethics, arbitration, and governance from leading international institutions.
Justice Asante’s leadership in judicial excellence has earned him numerous awards, including the Columbia University Global Freedom of Expression Award (2020), received on behalf of the ECOWAS Court, and the African Bar Medal of Merit Award.
Ghana’s nomination letter praised his “unblemished probity, fidelity to equity, and diplomatic acumen”, noting that these qualities make him ideally suited to contribute to the Advisory Committee’s mission of advancing human rights globally.
“The Government of Ghana is confident that Justice Asante’s candidacy will enrich the work of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee with his wealth of experience, balanced jurisprudence, and firm integrity,” it added.
