‎The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has raised concerns over the alarmingly low rate of compliance with its judgments by member states, stating that only 22% of its decisions have been enforced.

‎This critical issue was at the center of deliberations on the opening day of the inaugural meeting of Competent National Authorities (CNAs) held in Lagos, Nigeria, from June 23–24, 2025.
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‎In his opening address, the President of the ECOWAS Court, Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, described the meeting as a “vital step” toward addressing one of the Court’s most pressing challenges—poor enforcement of its rulings.
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‎He noted that while most ECOWAS member states have appointed CNAs, the actual execution of judgments remains low, threatening the Court’s relevance and the broader rule of law in the region.
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‎ It was said that Non-enforcement of judgments is an existential threat to the Court and undermines regional justice, accountability, and human rights protection.
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‎Established under Article 15 of the 1993 ECOWAS Revised Treaty, the Court has evolved from an interstate legal institution into one that also hears human rights cases and arbitration matters. Yet, the implementation of its decisions, despite being binding under both the Treaty and its Protocols, is left in the hands of individual states and their national legal systems.
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‎Justice Gonçalves emphasized that the Court depends heavily on the goodwill and cooperation of member states to fulfill its mandate.
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