ECOWAS COURT PRESIDENT VISITS NIGERIA’S NEW MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, PLEDGES CONTINUOUS COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT
The President of the Community Court of Justice, Justice Edward Amoako Asante on Thursday, 28 September 2023 paid a courtesy call on Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Yusuf M. Tuggar (OON) during which they discussed relations between the Court and the host government.
Justice Asante used the opportunity to congratulate the Minister on his appointment and reiterated the gratitude of the Court for the provision by the host government, of a new office accommodation, which the Court occupied at the beginning of the year.
He expressed the hope that the Minister’s tenure will be fruitful and successful and that the Ministry and the Court will continue to enjoy productive interactions for the fulfilment of the mandate of the Court in the context of the Community’s integration programme.
“ We are optimistic that the symbiotic relations between the Ministry and the Court will flourish under your tenure for our mutual benefit and that of the Community,” the President said.
Responding, Ambassador Tuggar praised the Court for its exemplary contributions to jurisprudence which has made it an exemplar within Africa and has contributed immensely to West African integration, particularly through the exercise of its mandate in the interpretation of Community texts and development of Community law.
The Minister also commented on the urgent need for a broad vision for African progress based on home grown solutions to its problems that are implemented independently and devoid of foreign influence.
He underscored the need for self-reliance and innovation while extolling the value of democracy declaring that “there is no alternative to democracy,”for holistic progress.
In attendance during the visit were Ambassadors Nuhu Musa Sani, Ambassador of Nigeria to ECOWAS, Daudu Yakubu, who heads the ECOWAS Desk at the Ministry as well as Mr Horsfall Jacob. Staff of the Court were also in attendance.