The President of the ECOWAS Court, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, has reaffirmed his dedication to implementing a strategic plan aimed at improving the performance of the regional court.
Justice Asante reiterated this commitment during the conclusion of the Judicial Retreat held in Nasarawa State, north central Nigeria, where stakeholders collaborated to devise a roadmap to revitalize the Court’s efficiency and effectiveness.
“I am deeply impressed by the significant input of judges and staff in enhancing the judicial processes and procedures of the Court. We will promptly institute measures to implement the outcomes in accordance with the specified guidelines and timelines,” stated Justice Asante.
At the retreat, it was resolved that departments should establish a rapid response mechanism for cases requiring expedited procedures and prioritize translation of documents into the working languages (English, French and Portuguese) of the Court. Furthermore, the Court intends to introduce training programs for lawyers pertaining to case filing formats and practice and procedure before the Court. Participants also reached a consensus on expediting document transmission and formulating a communication strategy for legal matters of the Court, among other initiatives.
Justice Gbéri-Bè Ouattara, the Vice President of the Court, emphasized the significance and potential impact of the retreat on enhancing the Court’s performance.
The Judicial Retreat, held under the theme “Case Management before ECOWAS Court of Justice: Relationship between the Registry Department, the Chambers of the Honourable Judges and the Legal Research Departments”, delved into four specific issues vital to the Court’s operations. These include special forms of proceedings, judgments of the Court and their enforcement; service of legal documents on the parties and their dispatch to the honourable judges; the role of the chief registrar, deputy registrar and other registrars in the case management process; and the role of the registry and legal research department in supporting the judge rapporteur.
The annual Judicial Retreat serves as a pivotal platform for judges and legal staff to reflect, assess, and develop an actionable plan for enhancing the operations of the Court.
In attendance at the retreat were Honourable Justices Dupe Atoki, Sengu M. Koroma, and Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçlaves, as well as the chief registrar, directors, heads of units and divisions, legal officers and key support staff of the Court.
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