ECOWAS Court President Calls for Reforms on 25th Anniversary

Justice Recardo Gonçalves, President of the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, called for reforms to strengthen the institution’s effectiveness and improve justice delivery as the Court marked its 25th anniversary in Dakar, Senegal. In his welcome address at the 2026 Annual International Conference, Gonçalves reflected on the Court’s progress over the past quarter century and outlined a vision for the future.

He noted the Court's evolution into a significant regional judicial institution, particularly through reforms that expanded its mandate to include human rights protection. Gonçalves highlighted the importance of adapting to changing realities in governance, technology, and human rights challenges.

He mentioned the approval of the Complementary Act on the ECOWAS Court of Justice in December 2025 as a significant milestone and discussed ongoing consultations for establishing an Appeal Division. He identified the enforcement of court judgments as a critical challenge and stated that the conference would address the need for timely enforcement of judgments.