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Infrastructure development in Ghana often faces delays due to disputes between contractors, government agencies, and other stakeholders. These conflicts frequently end up in courts, causing projects like roads and housing to stall for years.
To address this issue, the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) inaugurated its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre on Thursday, September 11, 2025 at its Engineering Centre, Roman Ridge, Accra.
The occasion was used to swear in a five-member board for the GhIE ADR Centre.
The GhIE ADR board members were Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu - a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Ace Anan Ankomah, a Senior Partner and Head of the Disputes Department of Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah, Kofi Osafo Sampong, an Investment Banker and a Civil Engineer, Prof. Richard Frimpong Oppong – Professor of Law at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, and Ludwig Annang Hesse - President of GhIE.
The centre offers a faster, fairer way to resolve engineering and construction disputes through arbitration, mediation, and adjudication outside the courts.
The centre is unique in combining legal authority with engineering expertise, ensuring decisions are both technically sound and legally enforceable. This approach reduces reliance on foreign tribunals and saves resources.
It benefits small and medium contractors by providing a dispute resolution platform while also helping government agencies avoid costly project delays. Ultimately, communities gain as vital infrastructure projects can be completed on time.
Lawyer Ace Ankomah highlighted that the centre complements the courts by easing their burden and speeding up justice delivery. Besides, it aims to train professionals to prevent disputes and hopes to serve as a regional leader in Africa.
The launch marked a significant step towards resolving hidden conflicts that stall Ghana’s development, keeping projects moving and communities thriving.
