ECOWAS Court Gets New President

On Oct 15, 2024

By Adoba Echono

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has elected Justice Ricardo Gonçalves from Cabo Verde as its new president.

He was elected for a two-year term of office, following an election by the college of five judges of the Court.

Gonçalves succeeds Hon.Justice Edward Amoako Asante who led the Court for six years since assuming office on July 31, 2018.

Also, Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, from Sierra Leone, was equally elected as the new Vice President of the regional court.

He succeeds Justice Gberi-bè Ouattara, who is Ivory Coast.

They joined the ECOWAS Court of Justice on October 6, 2022, which was inaugurated by President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau who was the then Chairman ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for a non-renewable term of four (4) years.

In his inaugural speech, the President-elect, Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves outlined his vision for the Court, which focused on two fundamental pillars: responsibility and dialogue.

He emphasised the responsibility entrusted to the Court by the ECOWAS laws establishing the Court and stressed the need to uphold the institution’s mission as an independent, reliable, efficient, and accessible court.

Justice Monteiro expressed his commitment to fostering continuous dialogue with other institutions and agencies of ECOWAS, Member States, and civil societies among others, while also ensuring financial prudence in the administration of the institution.

The other three judges of the Court are the out-going president, Justice Edward Amoako Asante (Ghana), the outgoing vice president, Justice Gberibè Ouattara (Côte d’Ivoire) and justice Dupe Atoki(Nigeria).

Under Justice Asante, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice witnessed remarkable growth and transformation in its jurisprudence, case management system and physical infrastructure.

He also brought innovations to the court’s processes by introducing the electronic case management system and amending the Court’s practice direction.

The innovations have enabled seamless virtual and physical court sessions and eased access to court-by-case applicants from ECOWAS member states.

This has reduced the financial burden on applicants because applications can now be filed, cases heard, and judgments delivered virtually.

He also filled most of the vacancies in the Court’s organogram by recruiting experienced lawyers into the Registry and Research Departments.

Jide Ibitoye.