‘About Time for Africa to Create Its Own System Like ICC’, Expert Says
‘About Time for Africa to Create Its Own System Like ICC’, Expert Says
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This Pan-African Frequency episode explores Africa's shifting stance on the ICC, as calls grow for a continental justice system reflecting African priorities. Plus, we celebrate a Ghanaian nurse winning the 2025 Global Nursing Award for groundbreaking cancer care work.
The demand for accountability is becoming more pressing, and the credibility of the International Criminal Court (ICC), particularly in countries of the Global South, continues to be questioned. Alex Manyasi, a Policy Engagement Manager at the African Population and Health Research Center in Kenya, engaged in a discussion with Sputnik Africa and shared his insights on the involvement of the ICC in Africa and the need for African-led international justice systems.
“Some of us have been proponents of that very idea that it is about time Africa created its own systems that are able to then deal with such [international justice] matters. Part of the reason that is important is that African issues and challenges are better understood by Africans. So, when you set up systems like the ICC, it would be possible for Africans to then prosecute their matters in a way that they understand best,” Manyasi highlighted.
Considering the potentials of the African continent and the need to promote African perspectives, Manyasi noted that Africa is the continent of the future with so much to offer in the coming years.
“Africa, as we speak, is the continent of the future. And I say that because the potential that lies in Africa today is so big, such that by 2050, the evidence around what we are saying in terms of young people, in terms of population, in terms of academics, and in terms of raw materials for industry, the future is completely African in many aspects. And therefore, it's about now that the leadership of this continent stands up to ensure that we are preparing the continent for the future, the policy expert commented,” Manyasi added.
Ghanian nurse transforms cancer care in Africa
2025 Global Nursing Award winner Naomi Ohene Oti—a passionate pioneer transforming cancer care in Africa. From her beginnings in Ghana to global acclaim, her journey embodies resilience and compassion. Speaking about the award, she expressed her gratitude, noting that the win is to boost the visibility of all African nurses, especially those working in cancer care.
I think this win is also sending a signal that when given the needed resources, African nurses can stand tall as their Western compatriots. It's also creating African nurse visibility. [...] I think it's a plus for African nurses in general as a whole. [...] It is quite humbling. It's not my only recognition, but it is also the recognition of resilience, dedication, and the very potential of nurses across Africa and beyond. More importantly, the unseen cancer nurses who are breaking their backs to give needed care to their patients or to make them comfortable,” Oti pointed out.
Tune in to listen to the full conversation with our guests on the Pan African Frequency podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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