The ECOWAS Court of Justice has elected Cape Verde’s Justice Ricardo Gonçalves as its new president.

It also elected Sierra Leone’s Justice Sengu Koroma as the new vice-president for a non-renewable four-year tenure.

They were elected by the court’s college of five judges and subsequently inaugurated by Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Embalo.

Mr Embalo is ex-chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

Mr Gonçalves succeeds Justice Edward Asante, who presided as the court’s president for six years, while Mr Koroma succeeds Ivory Coast’s Gberi-bè Ouattara as vice-president.

Meanwhile, Mr Asante has been recommended for Ghana’s Supreme Court, although he remains a judge of the CCJ until the end of his extended tenure in 2026.

Under Mr Asante, the CCJ witnessed remarkable growth and transformation in its jurisprudence, case management system and physical infrastructure.

Mr Asante moved the court from its former overcrowded location to its new complex in Gudu District, Abuja, in 2023.

He also brought innovations to the CCJ’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.

Mr Asante described his tenure as a “worthwhile experience and a privilege to serve the community”, which enabled him to gain valuable insights into the ECOWAS integration process.

The eminent jurist added that his six-year tenure enabled him to “understand the value of the respect for extant instruments of the community, including its commitment to respect for human rights, accountability and transparency.”

Mr Gonçalves said his vision for the court was focused on two fundamental pillars of responsibility and dialogue. He stressed the need to uphold the institution’s mission as an independent, reliable, efficient, and accessible court.

Mr Gonçalves expressed his commitment to fostering continuous dialogue with other ECOWAS institutions, agencies, member states, and civil societies and ensuring prudent management of ECOWAS funds.

(NAN)