Accra, Ghana, 27-28 August 2019: The Department of Political Affairs of the African Union Commission (AUC) in close collaboration with the Africa Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF) have completed the first regional consultative and capacity building workshop on the implementation the African Union Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP) in Accra, Ghana. The meeting, which took place on 27-28 August 2019 is to popularize the policy and promote its effective implementation in West Africa. The meeting brought together participants from AU Member States of the West African region, representatives from ECOWAS and CSOs.

The convening is a realization of one of the activities on the Roadmap on the Implementation of the African Union Transitional Justice Policy, to strengthen key stakeholders’ knowledge of transitional justice processes and the elements identified in the AUTJP, to raise awareness and ownership by the African citizenry and relevant implementing public institution.

During the opening ceremony, Mr. Makmid Kamara, Director of the ATJLF, introduced the newly established fund to the gathering and thanked MacArthur Foundation for supporting its establishment. He informed participants that the ATJLF will provide grants to community-based organizations, NGOs and survivor-led groups implementing transitional justice projects and initiatives in seven West African countries. He said the ATJLF’s goal is continental, but the Fund will start with supporting transformational TJ initiatives in seven countries in West Africa. He announced that the ATJLF is looking forward to going into a strategic partnership with the AUC to ensure implementation of the AUTJP and to promote Afrocentric approaches to transitional justice in the continent. He appealed to CSO’s and Government officials to see each other as comparators and not competitors to achieve the collective goals of sustainable peace, democracy and development in the continent.

The representative from ECOWAS, Mr. Emmanuel Okorodudu, in his opening statement stressed that this workshop was taking place just at a time when ECOWAS just commenced the development of their regional architecture by elaborating a handbook to serve as a guide on TJ for their member states. He added that the workshop should not only focus on how to evaluate traditional mechanism for TJ processes but also on issues of justice and principles of forgiveness and healing as they impact on society.

On behalf of H.E. Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Mr. John Ikubaje addressed participants and made clear the position of the AUC to provide technical support to its Member States with the implementation of the AUTJP. Mr. Ikubaje stressed that it was time to redirect efforts in the popularization, effective domestication, as well its close monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the AUTJP.

The representative of the Government of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. Willam Kpobi from the Office of Attorney-General, commended the AU and the ATJLF for this noble initiative. He noted that transitional matters ought to be dealt with to bring about good governance and the rule of law. He reminded the meeting that Ghana also experienced many transition periods and highlighted the establishment of the national reconciliation commission which sought to promote national reconciliation among Ghanaians. In declaring the meeting open, he further wished that this meeting would yield positive results and it would set the tone for the other regional meetings.

The outcomes of the consultation will contribute to the popular ownership and inclusivity in the popularization of the AUTJP. The Conference is expected to identify a clear stakeholder’s role and responsibilities in the implementation of AUTJP and develop a West African networking platform for the implementation of the Policy.

The AUTJP, ECOWAS regional TJ mechanism, TJ experts experience sharing, recommendations for the effective implementations of AUTJP in West Africa among other were presented in the meeting.

For More Information Please Contact:

Mr. John Ikubaje, Senior Political Officer, Department of Political Affairs, African Union Commission. Email:GbodiJ@africa-union.org| Tel: +251 (0) 923208041

Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou |Head of Division of Information |Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission (AUC) | Tel: +251(0) 911361185 / E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org

For further information:
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia