Gonçalves, who was sworn in on October 6, 2022, succeeds Edward Amoako Asante, who served as President for six years. Sierra Leonean judge Sengu Mohamed Koroma was also elected as the new Vice-President.
In his inaugural speech, Gonçalves emphasized the importance of the Court’s role in ensuring compliance with ECOWAS law and promoting human rights, democratic governance, and economic integration. He committed to maintaining the Court’s independence, reliability, efficiency, and accessibility while fostering dialogue with other ECOWAS institutions and stakeholders.
The ECOWAS Court of Justice, based in Abuja, Nigeria, is open to member states, community organizations, and citizens who may file cases related to human rights violations. Its decisions are binding and aim to strengthen the rule of law and justice in the West African subregion.
ODL/Sf/ac/fss/abj/APA