Prof Abotsi wants ECOWAS Court to bring regional justice closer to citizens
Professor Ernest Kofi Abotsi, Dean of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School, has urged the ECOWAS Court of Justice to strengthen its independence, improve enforcement of its judgments and embrace innovation to remain relevant to the people of West Africa.
Professor Ernest Kofi Abotsi, Dean of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School, has advocated for reforms to make the ECOWAS Court of Justice more accessible and responsive to the concerns of citizens across West Africa. During the 2026 ECOWAS Court of Justice International Conference in Dakar, Senegal, he emphasized that the Court must transcend its traditional judicial role and innovate to connect with individuals impacted by cross-border trade, migration, technology, environmental challenges, and regional economic integration.
Prof Abotsi underscored the Court's pivotal role as West Africa grapples with democracy, human rights, and regional integration challenges. He highlighted the Court's distance from many ordinary West Africans and proposed innovative ways to make regional justice more visible, understandable, and accessible. He suggested elements of the Indian Supreme Court's epistolary jurisdiction, where letters, telegrams, or emails could trigger consideration of alleged human rights violations.
Prof Abotsi also proposed introducing screening mechanisms to prevent frivolous claims and drew lessons from inquisitorial systems, where judges actively gather and examine evidence. The conference, themed "ECOWAS Court of Justice at the Crossroads: Justice, Innovation, Human Rights Protection and the Future of Regional Integration in West Africa," runs from September 21 to 25.
Prof Abotsi urged the Court to embrace technology to improve access, public engagement, and legal research, advocating for wider broadcasting of proceedings and the use of popular platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. He welcomed the Court's digital filing and virtual hearings but cautioned that technological innovation should remain human-centered.
Prof Abotsi stressed the importance of enforcement, warning that judgments without implementation risk becoming mere declarations. He stressed that the Court should be viewed as a central pillar of West Africa's integration project, emphasizing that justice is integral to the regional integration project.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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