Hon Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, President of the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS has reiterated the Court’s commitment to strengthen judicial cooperation, promote access to regional justice, and deepen collaboration between national and regional courts during a special forum for judges held in Conakry, Republic of Guinea.
In his address, during the judicial dialogue / judges’ forum held on 14 May 2026, the President of the Court described the engagement as a vital platform for professional exchange, collective reflection, and institutional cooperation in advancing the rule of law within the ECOWAS region.
Justice Gonçalves emphasised the importance of public awareness and institutional trust in the administration of justice noting that judicial institutions can only effectively fulfil their mandates when citizens and legal professionals clearly understand their jurisdiction and accessibility.
The President stressed that the ECOWAS Court of Justice is neither in competition with national courts nor an appellate body over domestic jurisdictions. Rather, he explained that the ‘Court complements national judicial systems through the uniform interpretation of Community law, the protection of human rights, and the reinforcement of accountability within Member States’. According to him, national courts remain the primary guardians of justice, while regional courts serve as partners in ensuring the effective application of Community legal instruments.
He highlighted the Court’s preliminary ruling mechanism established under the 2005 Supplementary Protocol, which enables national courts to seek authoritative interpretation of Community law from the ECOWAS Court. He observed, however, that despite the availability of this mechanism, the Court has yet to receive a request for a preliminary ruling from national jurisdictions within the Community. He expressed hope that the ongoing dialogue would encourage greater utilisation of the mechanism and contribute to the development of a more integrated Community legal order.
Justice Gonçalves also emphasised that the authority of any court depends not only on the quality of its judgments but also on the willingness of institutions and Member States to implement court decisions.
He commended the Guinean judiciary for its renewed commitment to judicial independence, democratic governance, and the protection of human rights. He acknowledged the Government and people of Guinea for the warm reception and support extended to the Court’s delegation, while also commending the First President of the Supreme Court of Guinea for the institutional collaboration that contributed to the success of the programme.
In his remarks, the First President of the Supreme Court of Guinea underscored the significance of the judicial dialogue as a key instrument for consolidating modern legal systems and strengthening the rule of law within the ECOWAS region. He noted that national and regional courts can no longer function in isolation in an increasingly interconnected legal environment and stressed the need for complementarity, jurisprudential exchange, and convergence in the protection of fundamental rights.
The First President said that the judges’ forum would enable experience sharing, strengthen understanding of Community law, and address challenges related to the enforcement of ECOWAS Court decisions and the harmonisation of domestic and Community legal obligations.
In an earlier welcome remark, Dr Yaouza Ouro-Sama, Chief Registrar of the ECOWAS Court of Justice noted that the judicial dialogue was intended to strengthen collaboration, ensure consistency in the interpretation of Community law, and enhance the protection of human rights and the rule of law across the region.
The judicial dialogue forms part of the ECOWAS Court of Justice’s broader sensitisation and outreach programme aimed at promoting awareness of the Court’s mandate, enhancing access to justice, and strengthening regional judicial integration within the ECOWAS Community.
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