As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marks its 50th Anniversary, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice (CCJ) is taking a bold and commendable step to bring regional justice closer to the people. Through its Community Outreach and Legal Aid Programmes, the Court is reaffirming its commitment to deepening public understanding of its mandate and ensuring that every citizen of the sub-region can access justice without borders. This initiative, which includes missions to Liberia, Togo, and Cape Verde between November 2025 and January 2026, underscores the Court’s evolving role not only as a judicial institution but as a people-centered instrument of integration and accountability.
The outreach will provide an avenue for dialogue, learning, and collaboration between the Court and citizens, reinforcing one of the founding pillars of ECOWAS justice as the cornerstone of unity and peace in West Africa. Over the past five decades, ECOWAS has played a transformative role in promoting economic cooperation, regional stability, and collective security. Yet, while these achievements are significant, the effectiveness of any regional community ultimately depends on the trust and confidence of its people. The ECOWAS Court of Justice, therefore, stands as the moral and legal backbone of the Community, interpreting its treaties, resolving disputes, and upholding human rights across Member States.
Since its establishment under Articles 6 and 15 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty of 1993, the Court has evolved from a mechanism for inter-state dispute resolution to a human rights court of regional significance. The 2005 expansion of its jurisdiction to include human rights cases gave ordinary citizens unprecedented access to regional justice, ensuring that victims of violations could seek redress when domestic remedies proved ineffective. However, despite these milestones, many West Africans remain unaware of the Court’s existence, its procedures, and their rights under ECOWAS law. This gap in knowledge weakens public engagement and hinders access to justice.
It is precisely this challenge that the outreach and legal aid programmes seek to address. Through academic engagements, media interactions, civil society partnerships, and legal aid clinics, the Court aims to empower citizens, demystify its processes, and build trust with local communities. By offering direct engagement and legal literacy, these initiatives will transform awareness into action making justice a lived reality rather than an abstract ideal. Liberia’s hosting of the first leg of the outreach, from November 10–16, 2025, is both symbolic and strategic. As one of ECOWAS’s founding members, Liberia has long championed regional integration and rule of law.
The presence of the Court’s officials, led by Chief Registrar Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, provides an opportunity for Liberians to deepen their understanding of how the Court works and how it can serve as an instrument of protection and empowerment. As ECOWAS celebrates fifty years of regional cooperation, the Community Court’s outreach initiative reminds us that justice is not merely a legal construct it is the heartbeat of integration. A community that protects the rights of its people lays the foundation for peace, prosperity, and unity.
The ECOWAS Court of Justice’s renewed commitment to public engagement represents not only a celebration of past achievements but also a forward-looking vision one where every West African knows their rights, trusts regional institutions, and believes that justice truly belongs to all. In this Golden Jubilee year, ECOWAS is not only reflecting on its journey but also redefining its future a future anchored in fairness, inclusion, and the unwavering pursuit of justice for every citizen of West Africa.
