The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS will hold a three-day intensive training workshop for journalists from ECOWAS Member States, aimed at strengthening their capacity to accurately and effectively report on the Court’s proceedings, decisions and jurisprudence.
The training, scheduled for 16 to 18 September, 2026 at the Seat of the Court in Abuja, Nigeria, brings together journalists, from the 12 ECOWAS Member States: Benin, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia, Togo, and the host country, Nigeria. The participants are drawn primarily from national broadcast media organisations.
The initiative forms part of the Court’s Annual Cascade Workplan and is aligned with the ECOWAS Court Strategic Plan 2026 – 2030, particularly Strategic Goal 4, which seeks to ensure transparency, stakeholder engagement and strategic accountability; and Strategic Objective 4.2 on strengthening platforms for regular stakeholder engagement.
Journalists occupy an important position in communicating the work of courts to the public. Accurate and responsible reporting of judicial proceedings enables citizens to better understand the mandate of judicial institutions, their decisions and the implications of those decisions for individuals, Member States and the region.
The ECOWAS Court recognises that effective reporting on regional justice requires journalists to have a sound understanding of the Court’s mandate, jurisdiction, structure, procedures and legal terminology. The training will therefore provide participants with practical knowledge and skills to report on judicial proceedings accurately, objectively and responsibly. Particular attention will be given to the use of official Court sources, verification of facts, appropriate presentation of the arguments of parties, and accurate reporting of the Court’s reasoning and decisions. Participants will also be equipped to distinguish between facts, opinions and interpretations, while avoiding bias, sensationalism, misinformation and disinformation in judicial reporting.
A key component of the program will be the opportunity for participating journalists to observe and report on the Court’s scheduled proceedings on 18 September 2026. This practical component is intended to translate the knowledge acquired during the training into real-time judicial reporting.
The training will be facilitated by officials of the ECOWAS Court, including representatives from the Registry and Research Departments, alongside expert trainers in journalism and judicial reporting.
Beyond improving individual reporting skills, the initiative seeks to establish an effective network of journalists across the ECOWAS region who regularly cover the activities of the Community Court of Justice. The network is expected to strengthen communication and collaboration between the Court and media institutions, facilitate broader dissemination of information on the Court’s work and contribute to increased public awareness of its mandate, jurisprudence and impact.
The initiative ultimately seeks to bring the work of the ECOWAS Court closer to the people of the Community by strengthening the capacity of the media to communicate judicial information in a clear, factual and accessible manner.
In the words of the President of the Court, Hon. Justice Ricardo Claudio Monteiro Gonçalves “Through sustained engagement with the media, the Court aims to deepen public understanding of its role as the principal judicial organ of ECOWAS and its contribution to the promotion of the rule of law and protection of human rights within the Community”.
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