Sierra Leone to Host ECOWAS Judicial Council Meeting for the First Time

Freetown, Sierra Leone, April 2026- Sierra Leone’s judiciary will host the ECOWAS Judicial Council for the first time in history, when the regional judicial body meets in Freetown from April 20 to 24, 2026. The five-day conference will be held at the Atlantic Hotel on Lumley Beach and is expected to draw a high-level delegation from throughout West Africa.
The organisers anticipate the attendance of approximately 12 Chief Justices, 15 Judges, and numerous senior judicial officials from ECOWAS member states. The meeting will be chaired by the Honourable Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, His Lordship Justice Komba Kamanda, who has positioned it as an important opportunity to strengthen regional judicial ties.
The ECOWAS Judicial Council is the primary forum for promoting judicial cooperation, ensuring the rule of law, and improving justice administration among ECOWAS member states. Sierra Leone’s hosting of the conference demonstrates its growing leadership in regional judicial reform, as well as its commitment to judicial independence, accountability, and cross-border legal collaboration.
Before the event, Chief Justice Komba Kamanda stated, “The hosting of the ECOWAS Judicial Council Meeting in Sierra Leone marks a significant milestone not only for our judiciary but for the entire nation. It reflects our shared commitment to strengthening regional judicial institutions, promoting court cooperation, and advancing the rule of law as the foundation of democratic governance and sustainable development in West Africa.”
Key agenda items will include discussions on judicial independence, court capacity building, harmonisation of legal practices across jurisdictions, and strategies to address emerging challenges in justice administration, such as case backlog management, digitalisation, and cross-border legal cooperation.
Sierra Leone’s judiciary has expressed readiness to welcome delegates and facilitate robust deliberations aimed at driving forward reforms and collaborative initiatives to support justice systems throughout the ECOWAS region.