Ricardo Gonçalves succeeds Ghana’s Edward Amoako Asante as President of ECOWAS Court of Justice

Ghanaian

Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves has been elected as the new President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

His election took place on Monday, October 14, 2024, following a vote by the Court's five-judge panel. Justice Gonçalves, hailing from Cabo Verde, will serve a two-year term, succeeding Hon. Justice Edward Amoako Asante, who led the Court for six years since

Read full articleJuly 2018.

In the same election, Hon. Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma from Sierra Leone was elected as Vice-President, replacing Hon. Justice Gberi-bè Ouattara. Both Justice Gonçalves and Justice Koroma were originally sworn in on October 6, 2022, by President Umaro Sissoco Embalo in Guinea Bissau for a non-renewable four-year term as judges of the ECOWAS Court.

In his inaugural address, President-elect Justice Gonçalves outlined his vision for the Court, focusing on two key pillars: responsibility and dialogue. He emphasized the need for the Court to uphold its duties as mandated by ECOWAS laws while maintaining its mission to remain independent, efficient, and accessible.

Justice Gonçalves also stressed the importance of fostering ongoing dialogue with ECOWAS institutions, member states, and civil society, while committing to financial prudence in the administration of the Court’s funds.

The outgoing President, Justice Edward Amoako Asante (Ghana), outgoing Vice-President Justice Gberi-bè Ouattara (Côte d’Ivoire), and Justice Dupe Atoki (Nigeria) complete the five-judge bench of the ECOWAS Court.