ECOWAS COURT REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO INTER-INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION TO ADVANCE ECOWAS VISION 2050
The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS has reaffirmed its commitment to regional integration, good governance and inter-institutional collaboration to advance ECOWAS Vision 2050. Honourable President Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves highlighted it in a goodwill message during the opening ceremony of the First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament for the year 2025 held at the Parliament headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
President Gonçalves who was represented by Dr William D. Towah, Director of Administration and Finance of the Court, expressed the preparedness of the ECOWAS Court to work closely with the ECOWAS Parliament especially in advancing the ECOWAS Vision 2050 focused on building and sustaining a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous region.
“Our presence here is not just symbolic; it is a reflection of the enduring cooperation and institutional synergy that exists between the Court and the Parliament, a relationship grounded in mutual respect, shared vision, and complementary mandates,” he said.
He acknowledged the symbolic importance of the year for ECOWAS as it commemorates its 50th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of ECOWAS Parliament, describing the dual landmark anniversaries as proofs of resilience and progress as well as an invitation to ‘reflect, recommit, and reimagine the future of the region.’ He underscored the gains of inter-institutional collaboration hinged on the common goal of promoting the rule of law, good governance, and regional integration.
He conveyed the warm greetings of the judges and staff of the Court to the Speaker and Members of Parliament and other dignitaries present at the occasion.
In her opening speech, Her Excellency, Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, Rt Hon. Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, expressed her gratitude to all who graced the occasion. She paid tribute to the founding fathers of ECOWAS for their enlightened vision of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful region as ECOWAS marks 50 years of its existence. She also highlighted the achievements of the ECOWAS Parliament at 25 years to include its expanded influence on the West African political scene through parliamentary cooperation, management of political crisis and promotion of West African integration.
“This silver jubilee that we are celebrating must remind us that integration is not an inevitable destiny but a daily choice that we must constantly cultivate and reinvent”, she added.
His Excellency, Mr Godswill Akpabio, President of Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in his goodwill message, called on the Members of the ECOWAS Parliament to renew their pledge to build a prosperous, peaceful, and united West Africa. “ECOWAS, he said, was never meant to be a concept. We must remind ourselves of the foundational vision of ECOWAS – a vision of a united, economically robust, and politically stable West Africa.” He acknowledged the region faced some challenges including economic and political instability, and insecurity, and urged all stakeholders to unite to reposition the region for sustainable development for the wellbeing of the people.
In his remarks, His Excellency, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President of ECOWAS Commission hailed the founding fathers of ECOWAS and called on all stakeholders to join in celebrating the achievements of ECOWAS over the last 50 years, and to reflect on the prospects particularly for socio-economic and infrastructural development despite the challenges of insecurity and political instability in the region. He commended the initiatives of the ECOWAS Parliament in promoting unity and social cohesion particularly its recent engagement with the three Member States that withdrew their membership of ECOWAS, to explore ways and means of returning to the Community.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, His Excellency, Joao Alage Mamadu Fadia, Auditor-General of ECOWAS Institutions, admitted the productiveness of inter-institutional collaboration as regards reinforcing internal control systems and improving efficiency and effectiveness of programmes implemented by the Community.
“We are open to contribute significantly to the actualisation of our strategic objectives backed by good governance for an integrated and prosperous region,” he added. Also present at the opening ceremony were Honourable Members of the ECOWAS Parliament representing the 12 Member States, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and representatives of international organisations, Invited guests, members of the press and staff of various ECOWAS Institutions.