Accra, Oct. 18, GNA-The President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves, accompanied by the Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, Vice-President of the Court, has paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the ECOWAS Auditor General.
The meeting marks the beginning of a strengthened collaboration between the two institutions, in a spirit of transparency and good governance within the Community.
In his address, João Alage Mamadu Fadia, Auditor General of ECOWAS Institutions, hailed the visit as a highly symbolic gesture, reflecting the willingness of the Court’s new management to work closely with his Office.
He recalled the scope of the ECOWAS mission, by stating that: ‘Serving a community of 15 Member States and more than 400 million citizens is an immense responsibility’.
He also emphasized that the audit function was not limited to a control role, but also included accompanying and advising institutions, in order to help them adhere to best governance practices.
‘Our role is not to police, but to ensure that administrative and financial operations comply with established standards,’ he said.
He added that collaboration with the Court of Justice was crucial to enhancing transparency in the management of public affairs.
In response, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves expressed his commitment to working closely with the Office of the Auditor General throughout its mandate.
‘We recognise the important role of audit in improving our internal processes. We are here to express our willingness to follow your recommendations and to benefit from your advice in order to ensure sound and transparent management of the Court’, he said.
The President of the Court, who was also accompanied by the Chief Registrar, Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, stressed that the management of the Court’s judicial and administrative affairs required meticulous rigour.
He added that cooperation with the Office of the Auditor General would be a key factor in the Court’s success in meeting the highest standards of governance and accountability.
The Auditor General, surrounded by several members of his team, including the Director of Operational Audit and the Director of Performance Audit, reiterated his commitment to supporting the Court throughout his mandate, affirming that his Office will always be available to provide technical and advisory support.
GNA