Arbitrators in Ghana are gearing up for a national colloquium that would help in redefining the scope of arbitration in the country.
Aimed at assessing the degree of court intervention in arbitral proceedings in Ghana, the colloquium, slated for the GIMPA School of Law in Accra on December 14, is expected to be attended by senior arbitrators, and ADR and legal practitioners in general.
A high number of arbitrators and legal practitioners have registered to participate in the colloquium which is being organised by the Ghana ADR Hub, a network of ADR practitioners.
The colloquium has the prime objective of engendering the development of a conscious policy of judicial support for arbitration as a means of resolving commercial disputes in Ghana.
It provides a national platform for a vigorous discourse to examine the provisions in Ghana’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Act 2010, Act 798, which provides for the intervention of State Courts in arbitral proceedings through a
The high profile panelists, who are mainly judges and lawyers, would discuss the principles that underlie related the provisions, and offer guidance on the interpretation of the provisions for the benefit of judges, legal practitioners and legal academics.
According to the outline of the colloquium, the discussions would be divided into three segments, with the first part focusing on the key provisions relating to the recognition and enforcement of arbitration agreements, while the second segment would examine the key provisions that relate to supportive role of the courts in arbitral procedures regarding the composition of arbitral tribunals, dealing with challenges to the appointment procedure as well as the jurisdiction of arbitral tribunals.
The role of courts in the enforcement and setting aside of arbitral awards would be dealt with in the third segment of the discussions which is expected to build a consensus for progress.
The panelists include Sir Dennis Adjei, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ace Annan Ankomah, Kizito Beyuo, and Ms Diana Asonaba Dapaah, all distinguished legal practitioners.
Mr Emmanuel Amofa, Lecturer at the Ghana School of Law and Administrator of the Ghana Arbitration Centre, and Mr Michael Gyang Owusu, Senior Lecturer, Ghana School of Law and President, Ghana ADR Hub, have been billed to jointly moderate the event which is expected to be attended by dozens of ADR and legal practitioners across the country.
By Edmund Mingle/ adrdaily.com
