By G. Watson Richards
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Sr., has urged West African leaders to strengthen enforcement mechanisms for rulings issued by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, warning that the court’s authority risks being diminished without effective compliance.
Chief Justice Gbeisay made the call during a courtesy visit by regional chief justices to Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone and current Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ECOWAS statutory gathering in Freetown, running from April 20 to 24.
While acknowledging the regional court’s contributions, particularly in advancing human rights protections, Justice Gbeisay emphasized that its impact is constrained by the lack of enforcement of its judgments across member states.
“The essence of a court is to render judgment, and the essence of judgment is enforcement; when judgment is enforced, justice is served,” Gbeisay said during the engagement.
He cautioned that failure to implement the court’s rulings undermines both justice delivery and public confidence in regional institutions, stressing that enforcement is central to the credibility of any judicial body.
“A court without authority to enforce its judgment is a waste of time, resources, and energy,” he added, calling for urgent reforms to address the gap.
The Liberian Chief Justice further appealed to President Bio to use his leadership role within ECOWAS to champion mechanisms that would ensure member states comply with court decisions, noting that stronger enforcement would enhance rule of law and deepen regional integration.
