The Chief Justice of Ghana, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, emphasized the importance of leveraging technology for justice delivery in West Africa. She highlighted the need for countries in the sub-region to collaborate using technology to uphold and enforce fundamental human rights.
Speaking at a workshop organized by the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Accra, Mrs. Torkornoo emphasized that technology could streamline the justice delivery process, reduce delays, and eliminate unnecessary procedures. She commended the ECOWAS court for championing electronic justice among member countries.
The week-long workshop focused on training lawyers on the newly implemented Electronic Case Management System (ECMS) of the ECOWAS Court of Justice. The event aimed to equip legal practitioners with the necessary skills to navigate the Court’s digital platform efficiently.
In his opening remarks, Hon. Justice Edward Amoako Asante, President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, expressed gratitude for the hospitality of the Government and people of Ghana. He highlighted the Court’s expanded jurisdiction to include human rights cases and its commitment to upholding fundamental human rights, the rule of law, and good governance within the ECOWAS region.
Justice Asante emphasized the Court’s efforts to enhance access to justice through digitalization, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He explained that the adoption of electronic case management and virtual court sessions marked a significant shift towards technological solutions, including online filing of legal documents and virtual court sessions.
The introduction of the ECMS represents a further commitment to modernizing judicial processes, aiming for greater efficiency and accessibility. Justice Asante stressed the system’s features, including electronic filing, automatic electronic service, and comprehensive electronic management of cases.
The workshop in Accra is part of a series of events aimed at broadening participation from lawyers across ECOWAS member states. Justice Asante thanked the Chief Justice of Ghana for providing the facilities for the workshop and encouraged all participants to engage fully in the training to harness the benefits of the ECMS. He reiterated the Court’s dedication to building a more accessible and effective justice system for the community.
