THE GAMBIA AND NIGER DESIGNATE THEIR AUTHORITIES FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE JUDGMENTS OF THE ECOWAS COURT

The Republics of Niger and The Gambia have become the latest countries to determine their competent national authorities for the enforcement of the decisions for the Court, bringing the number of such countries to nine.

The letters conveying their decision were received by the Court last week in line with the provisions of Article 24 of the 2005 Supplementary Protocol which vests Member States with the responsibility for the enforcement of the judgments of the Court in accordance with its Rules of Civil Procedure.

In particular, Article 24 (4) of the Protocol provides that each Member State shall determine the competent national authority for the purpose of the reception and processing of the writ of execution of the judgments of the Court on its territory.

The President of the Court, Justice Edward Amoako Asante said with the action of the two Member States, they have joined Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Togo in the growing list of countries that have determined their competent authority for the enforcement of the decisions of the Court.

“ We are excited by this development, which is indicative of the efficacy of our engagements with the Member States through advocacy and sensitization to encourage them not only to determine their competent national authorities but also to enforce the decisions of the Court which remain abysmally low,” the President said.

He said that The Gambia and Niger designated the offices of their Attorney Generals for this purpose and urged the remaining the six Member States that have done so to determine their own authorities as this will provide further  evidence of their commitment to their Community obligations.