Liberia has reaffirmed its strong and unwavering commitment to the principles and goals of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), actively engaging in regional initiatives and meeting its obligations.
Key aspects of Liberia’s commitment include:
Liberia is dedicated to regional peace and stability and has called for stronger intelligence-sharing mechanisms to address insecurity in the Sahel and the impact of political transitions. Liberia has a history of supporting ECOWAS peacekeeping efforts, paying tribute to the ECOMOG forces who served during its civil crisis.
The nation has been commended as one of the few member states to have fully ratified all key protocols establishing and expanding the mandate of the ECOWAS Court of Justice. Liberia’s government is also working to educate its citizens about the Court’s role and functions.
Liberia is committed to regional economic integration, including the free movement of people and goods. The government has assured the community of its efforts to settle outstanding financial obligations and is now fully compliant with its 2024 and 2025 community levy payments.
Liberia has successfully secured the bid to host the ECOWAS Youth & Sports Development Centre (EYSDC) in Monrovia, a significant achievement aimed at promoting youth engagement, education, sports diplomacy, and job creation across the region.
President Joseph Boakai has highlighted Liberia’s growing role in global diplomacy, celebrating the nation’s endorsement for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2026-2027, and pledging continued collaboration with the UN, AU, and ECOWAS to strengthen stability.
Liberia remains steadfast in its support for a stable, prosperous, and resilient West Africa, working with fellow leaders to address shared socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, human trafficking, and drug abuse.
Last month, the Government of Liberia has reaffirmed its strong commitment to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), pledging continued support for regional justice, human rights, and integration.
The pledge was made on Wednesday during the official opening of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice’s Outreach Program at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
Speaking on behalf of Finance and Development Planning Minister Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Deputy Minister for Administration Hon. Bill McGill Jones said Liberia, under the leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has made significant progress in settling its financial obligations to the regional body.
“Since the ascendancy of President Boakai, the issue of community payments has become a thing of the past,” Minister Jones stated. “Except for arrears owed for many years, which our government has prioritized through the FY2025/2026 budgetary appropriation, Liberia is in full compliance with the 2024 and 2025 ECOWAS community levy payments.”
He reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to upholding its financial and legal responsibilities within ECOWAS, including compliance with the Court’s rulings and timely payments of community levies.
Established under Articles 6 and 15 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty of 1993, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice plays a crucial role in promoting justice, protecting human rights, and fostering regional integration. The Court has evolved into a major avenue for West African citizens to seek redress on human rights violations.
As ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary, Minister Jones welcomed the Court’s outreach as a vital initiative to enhance public understanding of its functions.
“Despite its important contributions, many citizens remain unaware of the Court’s mandate, jurisdiction, and procedures,” he said. “These outreach initiatives will bridge that gap by engaging citizens, legal practitioners, civil society, and the media to enhance access to justice.”
He further stressed that justice and human rights must remain at the heart of West Africa’s integration efforts. “These aspirations will not be realized unless we enforce the Court’s decisions and maintain full compliance with our community obligations,” he added.
Deputy Minister Jones also called on ECOWAS to appoint more Liberians to key positions within the organization, noting that the country possesses the human resource capacity to contribute meaningfully to the regional body.
Delivering the keynote address, ECOWAS Court President, Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, commended Liberia for its steadfast commitment to the ECOWAS vision. He applauded the country for being one of the few member states to have fully ratified all the key protocols establishing and expanding the Court’s mandate.
“Liberia deserves recognition and commendation for its leadership,” Justice Gonçalves said. “Its ratification of the 1991 Protocol, the 2005 Supplementary Protocol, and the 2006 Protocol reflects a deep commitment to the rule of law and regional cooperation.”
He also underscored the importance of closer collaboration between national institutions and the ECOWAS Court in advancing justice and strengthening regional integration.
The opening ceremony was graced by Chief Justice His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, the leadership of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Ibrahim Nyei, and other dignitaries.
