ECOWAS court urges states to enforce judgments

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice says its judgments must move from paper to practice if citizens are to continue trusting regional justice.

President of the Court, Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, said every delay in complying with the Court’s decisions weakens the rule of law and denies successful litigants the full benefit of justice.

He made the point as Competent National Authorities from some ECOWAS Member States met in Cotonou, Benin, to discuss how to improve the enforcement of judgments delivered by the regional court.

The meeting is the second of its kind and follows an earlier engagement held in Lagos in 2025.

Although progress has been made since the first meeting, Justice Gonçalves said the enforcement of judgments remains one of the biggest challenges confronting the ECOWAS judicial system.

He said the Court’s credibility depends on whether Member States take its decisions seriously and implement them in good faith.

According to him, judgments that are not enforced do not only affect the parties who won their cases, but also weaken confidence in the institutions created to protect rights and promote regional integration.

“Every judgment that goes unenforced is a missed opportunity to strengthen the rule of law. Every delay undermines citizens’ trust. Every instance of noncompliance weakens the legal and institutional framework that our Member States have committed to building,” he said.

The Cotonou meeting is being held under the theme, “From Commitment to Framework: Operationalising a Collaborative Architecture for the Enforcement of Court Judgments.”

It is expected to produce a practical framework to guide how Member States and ECOWAS institutions work together to ensure compliance with Court decisions.

Participants include Competent National Authorities from Benin, Togo, Guinea, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

Representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Parliament, senior officials of the Court and other stakeholders are also taking part.

Justice Gonçalves urged Member States that have not yet appointed their Competent National Authorities to do so without delay.

He said the enforcement system can only function properly when every Member State has an active national body responsible for follow-up and compliance.

Chief Registrar of the Court, Dr Yaouza Ouro-Sama, said the meeting would assess what has been achieved since the Lagos engagement and identify gaps in national enforcement efforts.

He said participants would also consider a Collaborative Framework for the Enforcement of ECOWAS Court Judgments.

The framework is expected to improve reporting, strengthen coordination and create a clearer roadmap for ensuring that judgments are implemented across the Community.

For the ECOWAS Commission, the Director of Legal Affairs, Mr Gaye Sowe, said effective enforcement is central to the credibility of the regional legal order.

He said rights recognised by the Court must translate into real remedies for citizens.

Mr Sowe reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness to work with the Court, national authorities and the ECOWAS Parliament to strengthen follow-up mechanisms.

The meeting is expected to end with a final communiqué outlining priority actions and collective commitments.

For the Court, the goal is to ensure that its decisions do not remain symbolic pronouncements, but become enforceable outcomes that advance justice, accountability and the rule of law in West Africa.