Justice Adjei calls for alignment between domestic laws and international commitments

A Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana and Judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Sir Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei, has called on African nations to ensure that their domestic laws reflect the spirit and obligations of international treaties they have signed.

He made the call during the launch of his new 968-page book titled “International Human and People’s Rights, Law and Practice” at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in Accra on Friday, October 10, 2025.

Speaking to an audience of legal scholars, judges, lawyers, and students, Justice Adjei stressed that treaty ratification imposes legal obligations on states to harmonize national legislation with international standards. He stated emphatically, “Nobody forces a country to go and sign a treaty. And once you sign a treaty, you subordinate your constitution to the treaty. So if there are violations, they shall order you to go and align.”

Justice Adjei explained that many nations, including Ghana, have committed to international human rights frameworks, but inconsistencies between domestic laws and treaty provisions continue to undermine full compliance.

Motivation for writing

He said his motivation for writing the book came from observing this persistent gap between what countries pledge to uphold internationally and what they practice nationally. “I wrote this book for several reasons. The first reason is that I have moved throughout the world. Wherever I go — library or bookshop — you see literature on the African courts, the African Commission, the Inter-American courts and Commission, and the European courts on human rights. Then you see literature on the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. But you never get the fight together,” he explained.

Drawing from his experience as a judge of the African Court, Justice Adjei noted that he has had the rare opportunity to witness how different regional and international courts apply human rights principles. “Every year the three international courts, the African Court, Inter-American Court, and European Court — we meet. This year we are meeting on the 4th, 5th, and 6th in Tanzania. So I take advantage. And at the ICC, I served on the advisory committee. So whenever I was there, I visited the courtroom, I looked at the rules, and I saw that I have rights for people to publish it,” he said.

He emphasized that true justice requires a consistent application of international human rights norms at the national level. According to him, once a state voluntarily becomes a party to a treaty, it accepts a moral and legal duty to bring its domestic legal system into conformity with that treaty’s provisions. “It is not enough to sign and file,” he noted. “The real test is how much of that treaty finds expression in your national laws, your constitution, and your courts.”

International human rights jurisprudence

Justice Adjei’s book, “International Human and People’s Rights, Law and Practice”, examines these dynamics through a detailed analysis of international human rights jurisprudence. The 20-chapter volume draws lessons from global and regional courts and covers issues such as the evolution of generational rights, enforcement mechanisms, and the relationship between domestic and international legal systems.

Using examples from recent judgments, he demonstrated how courts have interpreted treaties to protect human dignity. Referring to a case at the African Court that struck down the mandatory death penalty, he said, “If you respect life, why should you say that once you convict the person, mandatory imposition of death must follow? If it is death alone, that means you do not respect life in respect of the treaty that you have signed.”

Human rights, peoples’ rights

Justice Adjei also distinguished between human rights and peoples’ rights, explaining that while human rights protect individuals, peoples’ rights safeguard communities. “Human rights belong to you as a person — your right to life and all of that,” he said. “But when we talk about peoples’ rights, it belongs to the community. That is why we have human and peoples’ rights. Human means it belongs to you specifically, but peoples’ means it belongs to the community.”

Cases at African Court

He further underscored that cases at the African Court are brought against states rather than their judicial institutions. “When you are here, you don’t bring the action against the Supreme Court; you bring it against the country. So we handle cases against whole countries for acts committed by their apex courts,” he clarified.

Justice Adjei said his goal in producing the book was to make international human rights law accessible to everyone interested in justice and governance. “Everybody must get a copy. The language is very simple, and you will love it. It will help you in your practice, not only as a lawyer but as a head of institution. If you are writing a judgment and you see how the international court has dealt with an aspect, it is going to enrich our judgments,” he said.

He also explained that interpretation of treaties and judgments requires precision and method. “Interpretation is not common sense. It is about the effective use of appropriate tools,” he stressed.

Distinguished scholar

The event was chaired by the former Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rev. Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye, who described Justice Adjei as a “distinguished scholar and voluminous writer of scholastic guidance.” Prof. Oquaye praised him for his consistency in updating his legal publications, saying, “Sometimes it is difficult to read a law book because you find that an authority cited has been overruled by a recent case. So, sir, I really appreciate your keen interest in characterizing your works.”

Reintroduction of other works

The ceremony also featured the reintroduction of Justice Adjei’s other notable works, including Modern Approach to the Law of Interpretation in Ghana, Alternative Dispute Resolution: A Ghanaian Perspective, and Essential Laws on Credit Creation and Administration of Security Interests: A Ghanaian Perspective. Prof. Oquaye hailed these contributions as “authoritative and deeply relevant to Ghana’s evolving legal landscape.”

In launching the new book, Prof. Oquaye described International Human and People’s Rights, Law and Practice as “a one-stop resource that reflects deep research, global exposure, and dedication to the advancement of law.”