By Josephine Sesay

The President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves, has led a high-level delegation on a courtesy visit to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio at State House in Freetown.

The visit follows President Bio’s recent election as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, a position the delegation described as historic and significant for Sierra Leone and the region.

Welcoming the delegation, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, stated that the visit served a dual purpose: to congratulate President Bio on his ECOWAS leadership and to initiate capacity-building initiatives for Sierra Leonean legal professionals, particularly state counsels.

He emphasized the importance of institutional capacity, noting that the training programs offered by the ECOWAS Court would significantly enhance the ability of government legal representatives to effectively defend the state’s interests.

Introducing the delegation, Hon. Justice Sengu Koroma, Vice President of the ECOWAS Court, expressed appreciation for Sierra Leone’s continued support and collaboration, he reaffirmed the Court’s commitment to strengthening ties with national legal institutions and promoting regional judicial cooperation.

In his remarks, ECOWAS Court President Hon. Justice Gonçalves extended formal congratulations to President Bio on behalf of the Court and its staff.

Your election as chairman of ECOWAS is a reflection of your visionary leadership at home and the trust of regional leaders in your capacity to advance the integration agenda, he said.

Justice Gonçalves expressed confidence that President Bio’s leadership would contribute to deepened cooperation among member states, enhanced institutional capacity, and the promotion of good governance, rule of law, and human rights across the region.

In his response, President Julius Maada Bio warmly welcomed the delegation and thanked them for their support and for recognizing Sierra Leone’s role in regional development.

The Court is an integral part of ECOWAS, and I am fully aware of the challenges it faces. I want to assure you of my full support throughout my tenure as chairman, president Bio affirmed.

He further commended the ECOWAS Court for offering training opportunities for Sierra Leonean legal practitioners, calling such initiatives crucial to building national legal capacity and improving justice delivery.

The visit underscores a renewed commitment to legal collaboration between the ECOWAS Court of Justice and member states, with a focus on capacity-building, judicial independence, and strengthening regional integration through the rule of law.