By: Akoi M Baysah, Jr.
The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, has reaffirmed its commitment to
regional integration, good governance, and institutional collaboration as
critical pillars in advancing the ECOWAS Vision 2050.
This was underscored by Chief Dr. William D. Towah, Director of Finance and
Administration, during his goodwill message at the opening ceremony of the
First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament for 2025, held at the
Parliament’s headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the Court’s President, Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio
Monteiro Gonçalves, Dr. Towah emphasized the ECOWAS Court’s readiness to
strengthen cooperation with the ECOWAS Parliament in pursuit of a peaceful,
inclusive, and prosperous region.
“Our presence here is not just symbolic; it is a reflection of the enduring
cooperation and institutional synergy that exists between the Court and the
Parliament—a relationship grounded in mutual respect, shared vision, and
complementary mandates,” he said.
Dr. Towah noted the symbolic significance of 2025 as ECOWAS marks its 50th
anniversary and the ECOWAS Parliament celebrates 25 years of existence. He
described the dual anniversaries as testaments to the region’s resilience and
progress, and a call to “reflect, recommit, and reimagine the future of the
region.”
He reiterated the importance of collaboration among ECOWAS institutions in
promoting the rule of law, good governance, and regional integration, and
conveyed greetings on behalf of the judges and staff of the ECOWAS Court.
In her opening remarks, Her
Excellency, Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, Rt. Hon. Speaker of the
ECOWAS Parliament, expressed deep appreciation to participants and dignitaries.
She paid tribute to the founding fathers of ECOWAS for their visionary
commitment to a united and prosperous West Africa.
She highlighted key achievements of the ECOWAS Parliament over the past 25
years, including its growing influence on West Africa’s political landscape,
crisis management efforts, and promotion of regional integration.
“This silver jubilee that we are celebrating must remind us that integration
is not an inevitable destiny but a daily choice that we must constantly
cultivate and reinvent,” she said.
His Excellency, Mr. Godswill
Akpabio, President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, also addressed the gathering. He called on Members of Parliament to
renew their commitment to building a united and peaceful West Africa.
“ECOWAS was never meant to be a concept. We must remind ourselves of its
foundational vision—a united, economically robust, and politically stable West
Africa,” he said, acknowledging ongoing challenges such as insecurity and
political instability.
Dr. Omar Alieu Touray,
President of the ECOWAS Commission, praised the achievements of the last five
decades and called on stakeholders to reflect on opportunities for
socio-economic and infrastructural development, despite current hurdles.
He lauded the Parliament’s recent diplomatic engagements with the three
Member States that withdrew from ECOWAS, describing the initiative as a
positive step toward reconciliation and regional unity.
His Excellency, Joao Alage Mamadu
Fadia, Auditor-General of ECOWAS Institutions, also spoke at
the ceremony. He noted that inter-institutional collaboration had significantly
enhanced internal control systems and improved programme efficiency.
“We are committed to contributing meaningfully to the realization of our
strategic goals through good governance for a prosperous and integrated
region,” he stated.
The event brought together Honourable Members of the ECOWAS Parliament from
the 12 Member States, members of the diplomatic corps, international
organizations, invited guests, media representatives, and staff from various
ECOWAS institutions.
