Evelyn Ama Ankumah is now Special Adviser to the ICC
Ghanaians are making waves globally, excelling in law, business, technology, entertainment, and sports. From international legal advocacy to leadership in multinational organizations, they are shaping global governance, human rights, and economic development.
One of such women is Evelyn Ama Ankumah , a Ghanaian international lawyer and human rights advocate, who has been appointed as a Special Adviser without portfolio to the Office of the Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in Hague.
She is the Founder and Executive Director of Africa Legal Aid (AFLA) with extensive legal experience across Africa, Europe, and North America.
Evelyn has been a key figure in advancing international criminal justice, particularly in promoting gender-sensitive and victim-centered approaches.
Through AFLA, she has led initiatives addressing marginalized rights issues, accountability, and access to justice.
Evelyn Ankumah earned her Juris Doctor (JD) degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was admitted to the Minnesota state and federal courts.
She later obtained an Advanced Diploma for Human Rights Researchers and Lecturers from the International Institute of Human Rights, Strasbourg, France.
She was a Research Fellow at the Department of International and European Law, Maastricht University, the Netherlands, where she authored the first book on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, later translated into French and Arabic.
A specialist in international criminal law, she has been instrumental in shaping legal frameworks for human rights and justice.
She also convened the Review of the Kampala Amendments on the Crime of Aggression, mobilizing African States Parties to the ICC to engage in justice reform discussions.
Evelyn Ankumah also leads the Gender Mentoring Training Programme for Judges of International Courts and Tribunals, strengthening judicial capacity to deliver gender-sensitive rulings.
Her advocacy for victims’ rights and defense counsels was a driving force behind the establishment of the International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA).
She initiated the Cairo-Arusha Principles on Universal Jurisdiction, promoting accountability for gross human rights violations.
Recognized as an expert on the Rome Statute of the ICC, she has played a critical role in shaping discourse on international justice and accountability.
In 2020, she was inducted into the International Gender Champions (IGC) network, a leadership initiative promoting gender equality and international justice.
Through her legal expertise and advocacy, she continues to influence global efforts toward justice, accountability, and human rights, ensuring greater protection for victims and marginalised communities worldwide.
JKB/AE
Meanwhile, watch as Joseph Yammin warns NDC MPs over apologizing for Ken Ofori-Atta’s house raid