ABUJA – Justice Ricardo Goncalves, President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, has said that the community court’s Five-Year Strategic Plan 2026–2030 is a tool for radical judicial transformation in the sub-region.
Goncalves stated this at a three-day technical validation workshop, which was organised by the court to review and finalise the strategic plan, in Abuja.
Reports that the plan aims at strengthening the court’s capacity, timely justice delivery, expanding access to justice, enhancing transparency, accountability, and human rights protection.
The final document following the review and ratification exercise is expected to guide the operations of the court from 2026 to 2030.
“This workshop is not simply about reviewing a draft document. It is about ensuring that this plan is realistic, practical, and implementable, with achievable steps that strengthen our ability to serve the Community.
“The Strategic Plan is a tool for regional judicial transformation to reduce delays, strengthen enforcement of judgments, make justice more accessible to citizens, and to build a Court that inspires confidence and trust across the region,” Goncalves said.
He, therefore, urged staff members to take ownership of the process and commit to its implementation.
Also speaking, Dr Olalekan Afolabi, the court’s Principal Officer, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, reviewed the court’s performance, the strategic plan’s framework, while outlining the workshop’s objectives and methodology.
He stressed the need for the ECOWAS Court to align departmental goals with the its vision toward ensuring that the strategies were both inclusive and achievable.
Reports that the event was attended by the ECOWAS Commission’s representative, the court’s management, directors, heads of division and staff, resource persons and consultants.(NAN)
