Dakar:Former Chief Registrar of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Dr. Tony Anene-Maidoh, emphasized the importance of diplomatic engagement with Member States to ensure compliance and enforcement of the court’s judgments.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Anene-Maidoh made these remarks during a presentation at the 2026 Annual International Conference of the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, held in Dakar, Senegal. The conference focused on the theme: ‘The Community Court of Justice – ECOWAS at the Crossroads: Justice, Innovation, Protection of Human Rights and the Future of Regional Integration in West Africa.’
Dr. Anene-Maidoh highlighted that the use of diplomatic channels is crucial for the enforcement of regional court judgments. He pointed out that the ECOWAS Court has often been neglected in terms of enforcement, with institutions in the region failing to actively engage in diplomacy to resolve compliance issues.
He called for stronger enforcement mechanisms, increased political commitment, and renewed diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing non-compliance with the court’s judgments by Member States. Dr. Anene-Maidoh suggested that political institutions within ECOWAS should actively participate in resolving compliance issues.
He also indicated that the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, as the highest political body in the community, could utilize diplomatic strategies and political tools to foster compliance. Additionally, he recommended that the ECOWAS Council of Ministers should monitor the implementation of court judgments and place greater emphasis on their status.
Furthermore, Dr. Anene-Maidoh urged the ECOWAS Parliament to play a significant role by engaging with national governments and exercising parliamentary oversight on the implementation of court judgments.