By Joseph Momoh, D.S
Freetown, April 23, 2026 Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay on Wednesday called for enhanced judicial cooperation across West Africa, saying stronger ties are vital to protecting human rights, advancing the rule of law, and driving economic integration within ECOWAS.
Speaking at the opening of the Statutory Meeting of the ECOWAS Judicial Council at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel Conference Centre, Sesay told regional delegates that the gathering comes amid what he termed a “transformative legal renaissance” in Sierra Leone.
He cited a series of recent reforms under President Julius Maada Bio’s administration, including the Criminal Procedure Act of 2024, the abolition of the death penalty, new gender legislation, the criminalisation of child marriage, and ongoing constitutional review. “Our direction is clear: to move away from justice for the few and toward justice for all,” Sesay said.
While outlining domestic gains, the Attorney General stressed that justice systems cannot function in isolation given the region’s shared challenges, from transnational crime and security threats to political transitions.
Sesay described the ECOWAS Judicial Council as pivotal to upholding the rule of law and reinforcing the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice. “Through its oversight, the people of West Africa can maintain confidence in regional adjudication as a shield against injustice and a safeguard for human rights,” he said.
He argued that deeper judicial cooperation would create a more predictable legal climate for investors and improve cross-border enforcement of judgments. “When we strengthen judicial cooperation, we do more than advance legal theory, we build the legal infrastructure for regional prosperity,” Sesay noted.
The Attorney General urged the Council to focus on three priorities: harmonisation of national and regional legal systems, expanded access to justice through technology, and reinforced safeguards for judicial independence. “Let us strengthen the safeguards that preserve judicial independence, ensuring that our courts remain enduring symbols of impartiality and truth,” he said.
Sesay closed by reminding delegates that their decisions affect more than 400 million ECOWAS citizens, underscoring the Council’s role in shaping the future of justice in West Africa.
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