Justice minister travels to Ghana for tips on combating crime

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mamoloko Kubayi, is today 19 May 2025, travelling to the Republic of Ghana. She will be one of the participants in a high-level retreat on the Kampala Amendments and International Criminal Justice.

“The Kampala Amendments on the Crime of Aggression are a set of legal changes adopted in 2010 at the Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), held in Kampala, Uganda”, said Justice spokesperson, Terrence Manase.

Manase said the three-day retreat is scheduled to take place from 19 to 21 May 2025. Minister Kubayi’s participation will highlight South Africa’s support for multilateralism.

“It will also address the fight against impunity and the advancement of an inclusive and balanced global justice system”, said Manase.

AFRICAN MINISTERS GATHER AGAINST CRIME

According to the Justice Ministry, the retreat will bring together Justice Ministers and senior officials from 33 African State Parties to the International Criminal Court. They will be among representatives from the ICC Presidency and the Assembly of States Parties. Also joining the retreat is the ICC Trust Fund for Victims, senior African Union officials and international legal experts.

“The event follows the successful pilot retreat in Johannesburg in October of 2024 which raised awareness and fostered a sense of ownership among African States Parties to advocate for a crime of aggression regime that is both fair and legitimate”, said Manase.

According to him, the Joburg gathering also initiated the process of an amendment proposal being submitted by African States. He said it also laid the groundwork for an Africa-led amendment proposal. Additionally, Manase said it reaffirmed the Africa’s commitment to a fair and legitimate international criminal justice framework.

The re-treat is organised in partnership with the Justice Ministries from Ghana, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Manase said the Accra retreat will continue building from the outcomes of the Johannesburg gathering. He anticipated that it would serve as a platform to further deliberate on the amendment proposal submitted by the Group of Friends.

DEFINING CRIMES OF AGGRESSION

The amendments define the Crime of Aggression and establish the conditions under which the ICC can exercise jurisdiction over it.

“An act of aggression includes using armed force by one state against another in violation of the United Nations (UN) Charter, such as, invasion, military occupation, annexation by force, bombardment, or blockade”, said Manase.

He concluded that the goal is to finalise a unified African position on the Kampala Amendments. The Justice Ministry is planning to achieve this ahead of discussions at the Assembly of States Parties.

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