KAS Ghana
The rule of law has long been an important pillar of KAS Ghana’s work. Strong democratic institutions depend on a functioning legal system, respect for fundamental rights and institutions capable of applying and enforcing the law effectively and independently. KAS therefore works with legal practitioners, public institutions, universities and other partners to strengthen legal expertise and promote dialogue on emerging rule-of-law challenges.
One example was the Advanced Seminar on the Investigation and Prosecution of International Crimes, held in August 2022 in cooperation with the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). The seminar brought international expertise to Ghana and provided specialised training for Ghanaian prosecutors. Particular attention was given to the investigation and prosecution of serious international crimes, including conflict-related sexual violence, and to the legal and practical challenges involved in ensuring accountability for such crimes.
The seminar illustrates one dimension of KAS Ghana’s broader approach: bringing international expertise and experience into dialogue with Ghanaian legal professionals and institutions and translating complex rule-of-law principles into practical professional capacities. At the same time, KAS works with key Ghanaian institutions such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and with academic partners, including the law faculties and legal experts of institutions such as GIMPA and the University of Ghana.
Over the years, these partnerships have addressed a broad range of legal and constitutional questions. More recently, this has also included emerging challenges such as mis- and disinformation and the legal questions surrounding their regulation, where the protection of democratic societies must be balanced with fundamental rights such as freedom of expression.
For KAS, strengthening the rule of law is inseparable from strengthening democracy itself. Democratic institutions can only function sustainably where rights are protected, laws are applied fairly and institutions have the expertise and capacity to fulfil their responsibilities. Through training, expert dialogue, research and cooperation with Ghanaian and international partners, KAS seeks to contribute to resilient legal institutions and a democratic system firmly grounded in the rule of law.
