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Judge Sylvia Ama Adusu

Judge Sylvia Ama Adusu

Born: Accra, Ghana, 19 March 1966. 

Education: B.A. (Hons), Law and Sociology, University of Ghana, Accra (1991); Qualifying Certificate in Law, Ghana School of Law, Accra (1994); Postgraduate Diploma (International Law and Sustainable Development), Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands (2002); M.Phil. (International Relations), University of Ghana, Accra (2006); Ph.D. (Law), University of Lancaster, Lancaster, United Kingdom (2020); further professional development and training through various meetings and workshops (1998–2021).

Professional Experience: Lawyer, Lynes Quarshie-Idun & Co., Accra (1994–1996); Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, Criminal Prosecution Division, Ministry of Justice, Ghana (1999–2003); Observer participant, 39th session, International Law Commission, Geneva, Switzerland (2003); Member, Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire Maritime Boundary Dispute Negotiating Team (2008–2014); Solicitor–Secretary, Lands Commission of Ghana (2010–2011); Co-Counsel and Counsel in various cases before regional, national and foreign courts (2010–2026); team member for Ghana, “ARA Libertad” (Argentina v. Ghana), Provisional Measures, ITLOS (2012); Notary Public (2013–present); team member for Ghana, Bankswitch Ghana Limited v. Republic of Ghana, Permanent Court of Arbitration (2014); Counsel for Ghana, Delimitation of the maritime boundary in the Atlantic Ocean (Ghana/Côte d’Ivoire), ITLOS (2014–2017); Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, Chief State Attorney and Head of International Law, Ministry of Justice, Ghana (2020–2026); Beijing Everyway v. Government of Ghana, Arbitration, Permanent Court of International Arbitration and London Court of International Arbitration (2021-2025); Chair, Expert Working Group of the Commonwealth Secretariat on The Enforcement of Suppression Orders in the Commonwealth (2022–2026); Delegate, AU Specialised Technical Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs (STC-JLA) meetings and meetings of legal experts prior to AU ministerial meetings, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2023); Chair, Specialised Committee on the Revision of the Treaty Establishing the Gulf of Guinea Commission, and its Fundamental Texts (2023–2026); National Focal Point, United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) Review Mechanism (2023–2026); represented Ghana in The Request for Advisory Opinion on the Obligation of States on Climate Change, International Court of Justice (2024); Co-counsel for Ghana, Arvind Bhatnagar and 4 others v. Republic of Ghana, Permanent Court of Arbitration (2024-2026); Commonwealth Military Justice Working Group (2024–2026).

Academic Experience:  Part-time Lecturer, Civil Procedure, Ghana School of Law (2012–present); Part-time Lecturer, LL.M. International Law, Lancaster University, United Kingdom (2017); Part-time Lecturer, LL.M. Programme, University of Ghana School of Law (2022–present).

Member: Ghana Bar Association (1994–present); African Women Lawyers Association (1994–present); International Federation of Women Lawyers (1994–present); Mental Health Authority Board (2025-2026); Ghana Boundary Commission (2010–2026); Coordinator, Ghana’s National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up (NMRF) (2020–2026); National Assets Management Working Committee (2020–2026); Co-Chair, Steering Committee on Business and Human Rights to develop a National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights in Ghana (2023–2025); Panel for Formal Hearing of the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (2023–present); Governing Council, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives (2025-2026).

Publications: Conference papers on “Tacit agreement in maritime boundary delimitation”, “Transboundary resources” and “Activities in undelimited marine areas” delivered at the Summer Academy on the Continental Shelf, Arusha, Tanzania, organised by the University of Faroe Islands in collaboration with the African Institute of International Law (2024); conference paper on “Post Judgment/Award Procedures in Maritime boundary Delimitation” delivered at the Ocean Governance Joint Interdisciplinary Conference, organised by the University of Ghana School of Law, Legon (2024); conference paper on “The Role of Advisory Opinions on Climate Change: Impact on Marine Resource Management” delivered at the 2nd International Conference on Ocean Governance, University of Ghana, Legon (2025).

Distinctions: Companion of the Order of the Volta (2023).