Monrovia – The Liberia Law Society called on the Government of Liberia to fully comply with the provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol relating to the ECOWAS Court.
On January 16, the Independent National Human Rights Commission organized a program to commemorate ECOWAS Human Rights Day.
Mr. Ezekiel Pajibo, National Project Coordinator of the Liberia Law Society attended and spoke at the occasion.
In his remarks, he appealed to the Government of Liberia to be in full compliance to an important provision of the ECOWAS Protocol which calls for the appointment of the National Competent Authority.
Accordingly, The Law Society has repeated its call for the appointment of the National Competent Authority.
The Supplementary Protocol of the Community Court of Justice (A/SP.1/01/05) Amending the Protocol (A/P1/7/91) relating to the Community Court of Justice Article 24 (4) provides that “All Member States shall determine the Competent National Authority for the purpose of receipt and processing of execution and notify the Court accordingly.”
This provision relates to the Method of Implementation of Judgment of the Court. ECOWAS realized that a fundamental aspect of the Law has to do with enforcement. Thus, this provision is intended to ensure that the decisions and judgments of the Court would be properly satisfied.
The Community Court of Justice was created pursuant to the provisions of Articles 6 and 15 of the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Its Organisational framework, functioning mechanism, powers, and procedure applicable before it are set out in Protocol A/P1/7/91 of 6 July 1991, Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/01/05 of 19 January 2005, Supplementary Protocol A/SP.2/06/06 of 14 June 2006, Regulation of 3 June 2002, and Supplementary Regulation C/REG.2/06/06 of 13 June 2006.
The Court has power to handle cases dealing with liability for or against the Community; The Court also has jurisdiction to determine cases of violation of human rights that occur in any Member State.
In addition, one of Liberia Jurists, Cllr. Micah Wright, is not only a member of the ECOWAS Court, he serves as its Vice President.
His Honor Justice Wright will soon lead a team of experts from the Court based in Abuja, Nigeria during mid-February to Liberia to hold a week-long information dissemination campaign.
The Law Society recalls that it has, on several occasions, communicated with the Office of the President, the Speaker of the House and Pro-Tempore of the Senate on this issue but has received no positive response.
Liberia is current Chair of ECOWAS and therefore must demonstrate its commitment to the protocol and the provision which seeks to enhance the Court in protecting and promoting respect for human rights of citizens in the region.