From Colonial Statism to Regional Solidarity: ECOWAS and the Remaking of Governance, Law, and Justice in West Africa

This study examines the transformative role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in reshaping postcolonial governance by conducting a comparative analysis of The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal. Combining archival research and policy analysis, it shows how colonial administrative legacies (1946–1957) continue to condition the implementation of ECOWAS’ digital governance, climate justice, and legal harmonisation agendas. The paper suggests introducing an innovative “Afrofuturist Governance Framework” to analyse youth-led mobilisations and digital sovereignty initiatives reshaping regional integration. Most notable findings illustrate wide variations in compliance: Ghana’s hybrid legal system boasts 78% of its laws conforming to ECOWAS protocols, whereas The Gambia achieves a meagre 34%, and Nigeria selectively resists supranational jurisdiction. By connecting decolonial theory to institutional analysis, the study contributes to the emerging debate on decolonial regionalism and offers tangible policy recommendations like the establishment of an ECOWAS Digital Fund, Youth Advisory Councils, and a Regional Climate Justice Court. The essay contends that the integration can only be long-lasting if it not only lawfully harmonises but also reimagines the character of governance in a manner that transcends colonial blueprints.