ECOWAS Court reiterates its role in the transformation into a citizen centred Community.

The Vice President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Honorable Justice Gberi-bé Ouattara, has reaffirmed the readiness of the Court to play the role assigned to it by Heads of State and Government of the Community in the attainment of the objectives of the region’s integration.

This role he explained consists of contributing to ‘moving the Community from an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of Peoples, as enshrined in the vision 2020 ECOWAS document.’

Speaking at the opening of the first ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja on Wednesday, 8^th May 2019, the Vice President reiterated the essential role of the Court in regional integration, notably ensuring the “observance of the of law and justice in the interpretation   and application of the Treaty and the Protocols and Conventions annexed thereto, and to be seized with responsibility for settling   such disputes as may be referred to it in accordance with the provisions of Article 56 of the Treaty and disputes between States and the Institutions of the Community”;

Honourable Justice Ouattara, who represented the President of the Court, pointed to the preamble of the 2005 Supplementary Protocol on the Court in which its role included the removal of obstacles to the achievement of the objectives of the Community, the acceleration of the integration process as well as helping ensure that Member States discharged their commitments.

He commended the regional parliament for inviting the Court to the session and described this as evidence of the solidarity and good relationship of cooperation existing between the Court, the Parliament and other institutions of the Community.