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The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) has launched an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre in Accra as part of efforts to reshaping dispute resolution in the engineering and construction sector.
It is the first of its kind to be established within a professional engineering body in Ghana and one of the earliest on the continent, positioning GhIE as a pioneer in promoting contractual justice through technical arbitration.
The launch brought together dignitaries from the judiciary, industry, and international engineering bodies, including the Acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, and the President of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO), Engineer Refilwe Buthelezi.
The Centre has already commenced training engineers in mediation and arbitration, building a pool of Ghanaian experts capable of resolving technical disputes.
This reduces reliance on foreign practitioners and ensures outcomes rooted in local realities.
It will be chaired by Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, retired Supreme Court Judge, supported by a five-member board of eminent professionals.
The President of GhIE, Ludwig Annang Hesse, described the ADR Centre as “the birth of a vision, a vision of peace, reconciliation and justice that promotes the development and well-being of our people here in Ghana, in Africa and in the world.”
He said the initiative was to help curb the unresolved disputes in engineering which often led to abandoned projects, wasted resources, and strained relationships.
“We cannot continue to churn out projects without feasibility studies or proper procurement processes.
These oversights only set the stage for costly disputes.
"This Centre is part of the solution,” he emphasised.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, lauded the initiative, stressing that the courts alone cannot manage the rising caseload of technical disputes.
“The judiciary cannot do it alone. If we are to deliver justice that is timely, fair, and efficient, then specialised institutions such as this ADR Centre must complement the work of the courts.
"It will ensure that disputes, especially those of a technical nature, are resolved by experts who understand them best,” the acting Chief Justice stated.
The Volta River Authority (VRA), which sponsored the remodeling of the facility to house the Centre, praised GhIE for providing a practical solution to the challenges of litigation.
Deputy Chief Executive, Samuel Kwesi Fletcher, noted: “Engineering is collaborative by nature, but conflicts are inevitable. Traditional litigation is costly and time-consuming.
"This Centre will help us resolve disputes constructively and keep critical national projects on track,” Mr Fletcher said.
The President of FAEO, Refilwe Buthelezi, hailed Ghana’s leadership, saying the initiative has set the right path not for the country, but the entire continent.
“You have set the path, not only for Ghana but for Africa.
This initiative ensures that ADR becomes a permanent pillar of engineering integrity across the continent.”
Ms Buthelezi revealed that FAEO was working with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat to integrate engineering ADR practitioners into cross-border trade and infrastructure frameworks, signaling the Centre’s continental relevance.
The President of the GhIE ADR Board, Michael Owusu Gyang, emphasised that arbitration decisions from the Centre will carry the force of law.
“The Ghana ADR Act provides that an award from a panel of arbitrators is enforceable as a judgment of the court,” he explained.
He also highlighted the flexibility of ADR: “ADR is party-driven.
Unlike the rigid timelines of the courtroom, arbitration allows disputes to be resolved at a pace that matches their complexity.”
