The Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to launch an Electronic Case Management System (ECMS), which enables virtual court sessions with lawyers and litigants from the comfort of their homes and offices.
Justice Edward Asante, the President of ECOWAS Court of Justice, made this known at the ongoing First Ordinary Season of the Sixth Legislation of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.
Justice Asante said the measure was put in place to democratize access to the court through the use of technology.
Ahead of the launch in September, the court has already conducted training for lawyers of the three language blocks in Togo, Ghana, and Cape Verde.
He, however, stated that the court was still faced with the challenges of enforcement of its rulings, staffing, and funding.
“While the court had made significant progress in improving on the human rights situation in the region, thereby helping to strengthen democracy, challenges remain on the issues of enforcing, staffing and finding.”
Justice Asante expressed optimism that based on the cordial relations with the Parliament, members of the ECOWAS Parliament would rededicate themselves to working with the court in the resolution of the said challenges for a more effective and responsible court that continues to be a source of pride to the community.
FRCN
