Former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Edward Asante, has been elected to the Advisory Committee of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) — a prestigious global think tank that supports the Council’s mission of promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.
A statement from Justice Asante’s office at the ECOWAS Court headquarters in Abuja confirmed his election on Thursday.
The 18-member Advisory Committee serves as the UNHRC’s intellectual and research body. Members are selected based on proven expertise in international human rights mechanisms, impartiality, and diplomatic competence.
Justice Asante, currently a Judge of Ghana’s Court of Appeal and the ECOWAS Court, will serve a three-year renewable term. Nominated by Ghana, he was one of two African representatives elected during the Council’s 60th session to fill seven available positions on the committee.
According to the statement, “Justice Asante is a distinguished jurist and seasoned international legal expert whose extensive experience in human rights law, international humanitarian law, and judicial administration makes him an outstanding candidate for this prestigious role.”
Ghana’s government, in its nomination letter, highlighted Asante’s six-year tenure as President of the ECOWAS Court (2018–2024), which it described as “marked by visionary leadership, judicial innovation, and groundbreaking rulings on civil and political rights.”
He was also credited with spearheading the Electronic Case Management System at the ECOWAS Court and leading external court sessions that expanded public access to regional justice mechanisms.
Justice Asante’s qualifications include training in Public and Private International Law at the Hague Academy of International Law, as well as advanced courses in corporate risk management, judicial ethics, arbitration, and governance from leading global institutions.
His contributions to justice delivery have earned him several honours, including the Columbia University Global Freedom of Expression Award (2020) and the African Bar Medal of Merit Award.
The Ghanaian government lauded his “unblemished probity, fidelity to equity, and balanced jurisprudence,” expressing confidence that his participation will “enrich the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee’s work and reinforce Ghana’s role as a global advocate for human rights and good governance.”
