The ECOWAS Court of Justice has launched a comprehensive five-year strategic plan aimed at strengthening the rule of law, expanding access to justice and deepening regional integration across West Africa.
The Strategic Plan (2026–2030) was unveiled on Friday in Abuja, where the court’s leadership outlined an ambitious roadmap to reposition the institution as a more effective and accessible judicial arm of the Economic Community of West African States.
President of the court, Ricardo Goncalves, described the initiative as a defining moment, underscoring a renewed commitment to strengthening the court’s role in safeguarding justice and promoting stability across the region.
He said the strategy represents “a turning point” and a clear affirmation of the court’s mandate as a guarantor of the rule of law, a promoter of justice and a key pillar of regional integration.
According to Goncalves, the plan focuses on institutional transformation, operational efficiency and measurable impact on citizens within the ECOWAS community. He stressed that its success would depend on close collaboration among judges, court staff and regional stakeholders.
He urged judges to enhance the quality and consistency of jurisprudence while ensuring that justice delivery remains accessible, timely and credible across member states.
The court president also highlighted the critical role of administrative personnel, noting that their efficiency in case management and technical operations would be central to achieving the plan’s objectives.
Beyond internal reforms, Goncalves called for stronger partnerships with ECOWAS member states, regional institutions, legal practitioners, development partners and civil society groups to ensure effective enforcement of court judgments and greater legal harmonisation.
He added that improved planning, transparency and a results-driven culture would underpin efforts to reposition the court as a more visible and influential institution in regional governance.
In her welcome remarks, Deputy Registrar Marie Saine described the launch as the start of a renewed commitment to justice and service delivery across the region.
She noted that the plan was developed through extensive consultations, institutional reviews and forward-looking analysis to address emerging legal and governance challenges in West Africa.
Saine outlined five core priorities of the strategy: ensuring timely and impartial justice; expanding access to justice and legal empowerment; strengthening human rights protection and legal harmonisation; improving transparency and stakeholder engagement; and enhancing institutional capacity and governance.
She added that the roadmap provides clear and practical priorities to guide the court’s activities over the next five years.
The ECOWAS Court of Justice, the judicial arm of the regional bloc, is mandated to interpret community law, protect human rights and adjudicate disputes involving member states and ECOWAS institutions.
Officials said the new framework replaces the court’s previous strategic plan and is designed to better position the institution to respond to evolving legal demands while advancing justice, peace and integration across West Africa.
