#Headlines

Ecowas rep laments current situation confronting region

May 2, 2024, 10:50 AM | Article By: Sheriff Janko

The Ecowas resident representative in The Gambia has lamented that in view of the current situation, the ECOWAS region underscores the need to strengthen the justice sector.

Ambassador Miatta Lily French was speaking during the opening of a three-day Ecowas Judicial Council meeting which opened at Bakadaji Hotel last Wednesday.

At the event, ambassador French expressed gratitude on behalf of the president of the ECOWAS Commission for the participation in the meeting and invaluable contribution to the issues focusing on the enhancement of the effective functioning of the Ecowas Judicial Council and by extension Community Court of Justice

She disclosed that considering the role the Community Court plays in the administration of justice in every member state of ECOWAS, it has become imperative that regular meeting of ECOWAS Judicial Council is organised to address the fundamental issues affecting the effective and efficient operation of the Community Court.

“The current situation of the ECOWAS region underscores the need to strengthen the justice sector to enhance state capacity to dispense justice, uphold the rule of law and human rights. We live in a dynamic world where change is the only concern” saying this therefore highlights the need for every entity to constantly re-strategise to meet the dynamic situation that present themselves.”

Ambassador French also spoke about the institutionalisation of the regular meeting of ECOWAS Judicial Council to review and guide its operations.

This, she believes, is a bid to ensure the court remains responsive to the needs of the people in the sub-region.

“In the face of insecurity, political and financial issues and other varieties of issues, including new crime facilitated by technology, needed legal intervention in the Ecowas region with the Judicial Council playing a pivotal role in achieving peaceful, stable and integrated Ecowas region in line with the objective of the Ecowas region 2050.”