President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Ricardo Gonçalves, says that validating the court’s Harmonised Protocol will reinforce its ability to effectively discharge its regional justice delivery mandate.

Mr Gonçalve spoke at a meeting of ECOWAS ministers of justice in Banjul, the Gambian capital, on Saturday, aimed at validating two critical instruments of the community court.

The two instruments slated for validation by the ministers are the Harmonised Protocol and the Arbitration Rules of the Community Court.

The court’s president said adopting the instruments would ensure alignment with the Revised ECOWAS Treaty and decisions of the Authority of ECOWAS heads of state and government.

According to him, adopting the protocol will strengthen the credibility of the court’s legal order, shape its future, and safeguard the principles of justice, equity, and human rights, which underpin ECOWAS’ integration project.

“The Harmonised Protocol reflects lessons learned over more than two decades of judicial practice and ensures alignment with the Revised ECOWAS Treaty and decisions of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

“The protocol will reinforce the court’s ability to discharge its mandate effectively, while safeguarding the principles of justice, equity, and human rights that underpin the ECOWAS integration project,” he said.

Also, The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow, represented by Vice President Muhammed Jallow, described the meeting as a “historic milestone” in consolidating the ECOWAS Court’s mandate.

He noted that the new Arbitration Rules will enable the ECOWAS Court to provide a credible regional mechanism for resolving commercial disputes.

The president said it would strengthen investor confidence and support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives.

Chairman, ECOWAS Ministers of Justice and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, described the court as “a beacon of justice and a symbol of collective commitment to regional integration and Rule of Law.”

ECOWAS Resident Representative to The Gambia, Miatta French, lauded the court’s management for the initiative toward ensuring that the court’s work was made less cumbersome and enhancing its effectiveness.

The Harmonised Protocol aims to integrate years of fragmented amendments into a single comprehensive text that defines the court’s composition, jurisdiction, procedures, and enforcement mechanisms.

The consolidation also aims to eliminate inconsistencies, streamline judicial processes, provide better clarity and greater legal certainty to Member States and citizens.

The meeting, convened by the ECOWAS Commission and hosted by the Gambian government, follows an experts’ meeting to review the court’s Draft Harmonised Protocol and Arbitration Rules.

Once validated by the ministers, the document will be submitted to the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government for adoption.

(NAN)