The President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Ghanaian Judge Edward Asante, was re-elected for a second two-year term by a team of five judges of the Court. At the same time, the Vice-president of this Court, the Ivorian Gberi-be Ouattara, was also re-elected for a new two-year term. By Koaci
Reacting to his re-election and according to the Nigerian news agency NAN, Judge Asante congratulated his colleagues for the trust they had shown him. The re-elected President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice is committed to using the second term to further improve the functioning of the Court and the execution of its mandate.
Asante said that the honour bestowed upon him and his country, Ghana, shows that his colleagues “approve of the trajectory that we collectively lead the Court towards.”
Mission and competences
The Court of Justice of ECOWAS is the main judicial body of the Community. It was created by a protocol signed in 1991 and put in place in 1993. This regional institution has the major role of ensuring respect for the law and the principles of equity in the interpretation and application of the provisions of the revised Treaty and of other subsidiary legal instruments adopted by the Community.
The Court of Justice of ECOWAS is aware of disputes that are before it by the States in the interpretation of the provisions of the revised Treaty. In addition, it may issue an advisory opinion on legal matters when it is referred to it by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers. It is also competent to pronounce on violations of the fundamental principles of human rights.
Source : Kozci / Mensah Permanent Correspondent of KOACI in Togo, Nigeria and Ghana
