-Through Judicial Dialogue
By: G. Bennie Bravo Johnson, I
The Supreme Court of Liberia, in partnership with the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, on Friday held a one-day judicial dialogue aimed at strengthening cooperation between national and regional judicial institutions. The meeting took place at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
The judicial dialogue seeks to raise public awareness and understanding of the Court’s existence, role, jurisdiction, services, and accessibility by Community citizens, residents, partners, and other stakeholders with a view to increasing knowledge about, and access to the Court.
It further seeks to educate citizens about the role, mandate, and jurisdiction of the Court; walk stakeholders through the law, practice, and procedures before the Court, educate citizens & stakeholders on how the Court can be accessed. And to showcase the Court’s jurisprudence and its impact in strengthening rule of law and shaping legal reforms within the subregion and beyond and improve the visibility of the Court in the sub-region, and as well as facilitate direct interaction and engagement between the Court, stakeholders, and the communities.
During the opening of the dialogue, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, His Honor, Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay described the dialogue as essential for broadening legal understanding in Liberia and improving access to justice. He said the participation of judges, magistrates, lawyers, and other legal actors would encourage meaningful discussions and foster collaboration to address legal challenges in the region.
Chief Justice Gbeisay also commended the ECOWAS Court for its role in upholding the rule of law and protecting human rights across member states. “Liberia recognizes and values the Court’s commitment to justice and constitutional order,” he said.
Speaking at the event, President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Hon. Ricardo Claudio Monteiro Gonçalves, described the dialogue as more than a courtesy. “Today’s exchange is a necessity,” he said, adding that it is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the regional court and national judiciaries.
Hon. Gonçalves emphasized that cooperation between domestic courts and the regional court goes beyond institutional arrangements. He described it as “organic,” requiring continuous communication to navigate the complexities of human rights obligations and Community law. He added that such dialogues ensure consistency in interpreting legal norms across West Africa and that ECOWAS courts share a common heritage and mandate, drawing legitimacy from the people and the law.
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice (the Court) was established under Articles 6 and 15 of the ECOWAS Revised 1993, which provides for the setting out of its powers, functions, and procedures in its Constitutive Protocol. Pursuant to its Constitutive Protocol of 1991. The Court was initially responsible for settling disputes between Member States on matters relating to Community law and between Community officials and institutions of the Community. In January 2005, the Court’s jurisdiction was expanded to include adjudicating on human rights violations that occur in Member States and an Arbitrator pending the establishment of the Community’s Arbitration Tribunal.
Through its decisions and opinions, the Court has over the years become a pivotal institution safeguarding justice, strengthening the rule of law, protecting human rights, and contributing to regional integration within the ECOWAS sub-region. However, the Court is not very well known by citizens and residents of ECOWAS Member States. There is limited knowledge and awareness of its mandate, jurisdiction, practice and procedures, services, and how to access it.
ECOWAS celebration of its 50 years of existence therefore represents a strategic opportunity for the Court to reach out to Community citizens and stakeholders to create more awareness of its mandate, practice and procedures and access by citizens to its services, while also showcasing its significant contribution as a community institution, to strengthening the rule of law, protecting human rights, and promoting regional integration.
