ECOWAS Chairman Bassirou Diomaye Faye has sworn in five new judges of the Community Court of Justice, charging them to uphold impartiality and public confidence. The judges are Mr Désiré Henri Aihou of Benin, Justice Awa Bah of The Gambia, Mrs Charlyne M. Brumskine of Liberia, Mrs Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu of Nigeria and Dr Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo. They were appointed for a non-renewable four-year term by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 69th Ordinary Session in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026.
President Faye, who administered the oath at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, said the judges were assuming office at a time the region faced political, economic, security and environmental challenges. He said the Court had a key responsibility to ensure fairness in the application of ECOWAS legal instruments, protect citizens’ rights and strengthen confidence in regional institutions. The Chairman emphasized that the Court's credibility would depend on the quality of its decisions and the confidence they inspired among citizens.
The new judges succeeded Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves of Cape Verde, Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma of Sierra Leone, Justice Dupe Atoki of Nigeria, Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire and Justice Edward Amoako Asante of Ghana, whose four-year tenure had ended. Their appointment was pursuant to the December 2025 Supplementary Act SA.1/12/25 on the Community Court of Justice. General Birame Diop, ECOWAS Commission President, described the ceremony as a commitment by the new judges to the citizens of the Community and its common legal order.
President Faye urged the judges to let their oath guide them throughout their four-year tenure, particularly in determining cases before the Court. He charged them to administer justice fairly, consider cases according to their conscience and perform their duties impartially without yielding to pressure from any quarter. The Chairman emphasized that the judges' oath required them to put aside personal interests and external influences and uphold community law with honour, loyalty, impartiality and conscience.
General Birame Diop said the oath marked the moment when the individual sets aside their personal interests and all external influences to serve only community law. He added that the ceremony also reflected member states’ recognition of the Court’s authority and their commitment to respecting its independence. The ECOWAS Commission President noted that the Court played a crucial role in protecting citizens' rights and promoting regional integration.
The Community Court of Justice is an important institution in the ECOWAS region, responsible for interpreting and applying ECOWAS legal instruments. The Court has jurisdiction to hear cases involving member states, ECOWAS institutions and citizens. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by dignitaries from ECOWAS member states and officials of the ECOWAS Commission. The event marked a significant milestone in the administration of justice in the region.
The five new judges will play a critical role in promoting justice, peace and stability in the ECOWAS region. They will be expected to work together to build on the legacy of their predecessors and contribute to the development of the Community Court of Justice. The judges' appointment is seen as a positive step towards strengthening the region's judicial institutions and promoting the rule of law.
Key points
- The new judges were sworn in for a non-renewable four-year term.
- The judges were appointed pursuant to the December 2025 Supplementary Act SA.1/12/25 on the Community Court of Justice.
- The Community Court of Justice plays a crucial role in protecting citizens' rights and promoting regional integration.
