The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission’s Legal Affairs Directorate successfully organized the 6th Retreat of the ECOWAS Legal Advisers Network. The gathering took place from December 17 to 21, 2024, in Banjul, The Gambia, with representatives from the ECOWAS Commission, ECOWAS Parliament, and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) in attendance.
The event began with an opening ceremony chaired by Acting Director of Legal Affairs, Mrs. Isatou Combeh Njai, who welcomed participants and commended their dedication to the network.
The Legal Advisers Network serves as a platform for legal collaboration and professional exchange across ECOWAS institutions, agencies, and offices. The retreat is part of its biannual tradition, held before mid-year and year-end statutory meetings, to address key priorities and strengthen regional legal frameworks.
Key goals of the retreat included:
- Drafting and Reviewing Legal Texts: Ensuring alignment of ECOWAS documents in English, French, and Portuguese to meet community and international standards for upcoming statutory meetings.
- Centralized Contract Preparation: Outlining strategies for implementing directives to centralize the drafting and management of all contracts within ECOWAS institutions.
- Harmonization of Legal Activities: Exploring ways to harmonize and coordinate the work of legal advisers across the network.
- Enhancing Interaction: Creating more opportunities for collaboration among network members to strengthen legal expertise within the ECOWAS framework.
The Legal Advisers Network remains a vital initiative of the ECOWAS Legal Affairs Directorate, fostering legal cooperation and ensuring that the community operates within a unified legal framework. The retreat concluded with renewed commitment to these objectives, setting the stage for more effective legal governance in the region.