Post a comment 
The Hon. Speaker of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, on Monday, February 9, 2026, received an award from the ECOWAS Court of Justice in recognition of his support for regional judicial cooperation, during a courtesy visit by a high-level delegation of the Court to Parliament.
The delegation was led by the President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Ricardo Claudio Monteiro Goncalves, who said the visit formed part of activities marking the Court’s 50th anniversary.
According to him, the Court is undertaking a tour of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Nigeria to review bilateral obligations with member states and to strengthen compliance with its judgments.
Hon. Justice Goncalves thanked Speaker Thomas for receiving the delegation and for his support for the work of the regional court. He described the execution of court judgments as the most significant challenge facing the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
“The biggest challenge facing the ECOWAS Court of Justice is ensuring that member states execute its rulings,” he said, adding that the visit was intended to raise awareness and seek the support of national authorities in addressing the problem.
He disclosed that the Court currently has 18 cases at various stages, with only one fully executed, six adjourned, and 11 still pending execution. He explained that the slow pace of enforcement had prompted the Court to engage directly with national institutions to explore possible remedial actions.
In response, Speaker Thomas welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to peace, justice, and regional cooperation within the ECOWAS sub-region. Drawing on more than two decades of legal experience, he stressed the importance of enforcing judicial decisions, stating that “a court that fails to execute its judgments is not a court.”
The Speaker called on the ECOWAS Court of Justice to strengthen its engagement with the executive arms of government across member states, noting that effective enforcement of judgments depends largely on executive action. He assured the delegation that the Sixth Parliament, under his leadership, would fully support initiatives aimed at strengthening the Court’s capacity to implement its rulings.
The visit ended with the presentation of an award to Speaker Thomas, followed by a photo session. The engagement reflects the growing cooperation between Sierra Leone and the ECOWAS Court of Justice and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to regional judicial cooperation and the effective implementation of ECOWAS Court judgments to uphold justice across West Africa.
