News:
March 22, 2022
The Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah has said the mandate of the Ghanaian court is very clear and has been properly spelt out by the 1992 Republican Constitution as the Ghanaian courts operates within its municipal systems.
According to him the ECOWAS Court of Justice operates at the sub-regional level hence both courts are not in competition
“The ECOWAS court is not an appellate court over the courts of member states. There is the need for room for collaboration of our different mandate, the protocols of ECOWAS Court has a provision of onward referrals by national courts of member states to the ECOWAS Court and given member states national courts the responsibility of the enforcement of the judgment of the Community Court of Justice”.
Justice Anin-Yeboah made this remarks when he gave a welcome address on Monday, March 21, 2022 as Ghana host the ECOWAS Court external court session for the first time in Accra for the next two weeks.
“It is a step in the right direction to bring the courts closer to the citizens and foster close relation between the Community court and the judiciary of Ghana and also create awareness of the court. Ghana is a key player in the affairs of the West African sub- region and the court has to facilitate the integration process”, he stated.
He commended the Community Court for discharging its human rights duties with distinction and has established bold authoritative and globally acclaimed human rights mechanism.
He further called for the review of the decision that reduced the number of judges from seven (7) to five (5) as he believe the court requires adequate number of judges to discharge its functions effectively, and also it would be necessary to review the four years nonrenewable tenure of the members of the court to enable the community derive maximum benefit from their vast experience.
As the court session in Ghana would provide members of the Ghanaian bar the opportunity to observe and international court in session and to learn more of their practice and procedure of the community court of justice.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com