COURT PRESIDENT URGES GHANA TO EXPEDITE THE ARRANGEMENTS THAT WILL FACILITATE THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE DECISIONS COURT

 The ECOWAS Court plans to introduce a scholarship programme for post graduate students in selected universities in West Africa to encourage the study of Community law as part of a new initiative to stimulate knowledge of such law by law students within the community, the President of the Court, Justice Edward Amoako Asante said on Tuesday, 9^th January 2024 in Accra.

 “Considering the dwindling resources of the Community and the significant financial outlay required to finance this initiative, we are discussing with partners on the funding arrangement for this project which is designed to develop a pool of lawyers knowledgeable about Community law and who could serve as resource persons,” the President said during a courtesy call on Ghana’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Godfrey Yeboah Dame.

Justice Asante, who is at the head of the Court’s delegation on a weeklong sensitization campaign in Ghana, urged the country to expedite the process for the ratification and domestication of the relevant regional texts on the Court that will facilitate the enforcement of the decisions of the Court by the country.

The President noted that by concluding the process, the Minister will be redeeming a pledge made in his speech during the opening ceremony of the 2022 external court session of the Court held in Accra.

While acknowledging the procedural challenges, especially the involvement of the country’s parliament in the ratification process, Justice Asante underscored the vital role the enforcement will play in ensuring that Ghanaians avail themselves of the services offered by the ECOWAS Court which a human rights jurisdiction among its mandate

He told the Minister that the sensitization campaign in the country is part of the continued effort by the Court to engage with the citizens with a variety of components including media interviews, targeted engagements with stakeholders such as law students, law enforcement officials and lawyers.

In his response, the Minister acknowledged the important role played by the Court in the protection of the human rights of ECOWAS citizens and the deepening of Community law and assured the President of the country’s  commitment to put the appropriate mechanism in place that will facilitate the enforcement of its decisions in the country.

He assured Justice Asante of Ghana’s commitment and its dedication to the effective functioning of the regional court and reiterated the  promise of the the State would work diligently to ensure that the necessary mechanisms were in place to facilitate the enforcement of the Court’s decisions within the national legal framework.

The sensitization programme in Member States in which the Court engages with stakeholders by creating an awareness of its existence, enables citizens to take ownership of the Court as well as avail themselves of its services, particularly for the preservation of their human rights, one of its four mandates.

The campaign started on 8^th January 2024, a day after the arrival of the delegation of the Court in the country.

In attendance at the meeting with the Minister were other members of the delegation of the President as well as senior officials of the Ministry including the Deputy Attorney-General Hon. Alfred Tuah-Yeboah and Hon. Diana Asonaba Dapaah.