On Monday, February 9, 2026, a high-powered delegation of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, led by its President, Hon. Justice Ricardo Claudio Monteiro Goncalves, paid a courtesy call on the Rt. Hon. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas.
The visit was aimed at underscoring the importance of member states to improving on judicial excellence and to execute ECOWAS Court’s judgements within member states.
In his statement, Hon. Justice Goncalves expressed gratitude to the Rt. Hon. Speaker for receiving the delegation, highlighting the ECOWAS Court’s celebration of its 50th anniversary. He announced that the Court was conducting a tour in three member states to review bilateral obligations with a view to upholding ECOWAS Court’s judgments.
The delegation’s visit to Sierra Leone was part of this effort, with subsequent visits planned for Guinea and Nigeria.
Hon. Justice Goncalves emphasized that the biggest challenge facing the ECOWAS Court of Justice was member states’ adherence to the Court’s judgments. He reiterated that the purpose of the visit was to sensitize and create awareness on the importance of ECOWAS Court’s judgments and execution, seeking the Rt. Hon. Speaker’s interventions to addressing this challenge.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas welcomed the ECOWAS delegation, expressing Sierra Leone’s commitments to peace and regional cooperation. He acknowledged the importance of adhering to ECOWAS Court’s judgments, citing his experience as a lawyer with over two decades of practice. Speaker Thomas emphasized that a court that fails to execute its judgments is not a court, calling on the ECOWAS Court to engage with the executive branch of governments to intensify discussions and to find solutions to this issue.
Speaker Thomas assured the ECOWAS Court of Justice that the Sixth Parliament, under his leadership, would provide full support in terms of any instrument that is geared towards supporting the Court in executing its judgments.
The President affirmed that ECOWAS Court of Justice has had 18 cases, with one fully executed, six adjourned, and 11 pending execution. He said the slow pace of executing judgments had prompted the Court’s visit to national authorities in member states to find remedial actions.
The Court’s engagement with the Rt. Hon. Speaker and other stakeholders aims to strengthen cooperation and ensure the effective implementation of ECOWAS Court’s judgments.
The visit highlights the importance of regional cooperation and the need for member states to adhere to ECOWAS judgments, ensuring the effectiveness of the Court and promoting judicial excellence in the region. With Sierra Leone’s commitments to peace and regional cooperation, the ECOWAS Court of Justice is optimistic about finding solutions to the challenges it has faced in the execution of its judgments.
The meeting was climaxed with a presentation of gift to the Rt. Hon. Speaker coupled with a photo session.
Parliamentary and Public Relations Department, Parliament of Sierra Leone.
