Constructing a new Era of Change through an Alternative Dispute Resolution Initiative

Infrastructure is crucial to the development of Ghana. Yet these infrastructural projects are often compromised due to conflict, a reality often shielded from public eye. Disputes between contractors and state agencies, disagreements over contract terms, or misunderstandings around design specifications have long stalled critical projects. Many such disputes end up in Ghana’s overburdened courts, where cases can linger for years, leaving half-finished bridges, roads and stalled housing projects as visible scars of systemic inefficiency.

To mitigate these challenges, the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) inaugurated its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre on 11^th September 2025. The Centre is envisioned as a specialized hub for resolving disputes in engineering and construction swiftly, fairly, and with technical expertise at its core. Beyond the ceremonial launch, the event was a statement of intent that engineers are no longer willing to allow conflicts to derail national development, and that Ghana can build its own institutional framework to manage disputes in ways that are practical, credible, and futuristic.

ADR: A Lifeline for Ghana’s Infrastructure Projects

The relevance of ADR in Ghana’s engineering landscape cannot be overstretched. Large-scale infrastructure projects are inherently complex, involving multiple contractors, government agencies, financiers, and local communities. With so many players at the table, disputes are almost inevitable. However, the challenge is in how these conflicts are managed.

“Court litigation is too slow and too expensive. By the time a case is resolved, projects lose momentum, communities lose trust, and costs spiral. This Centre ensures that disputes are addressed promptly so work can continue.”  argued Justice Ace Ankomah, representing the Judicial Council on the Centre’s new board.

His words mirror a reality familiar across Ghana, where cases tied up in the courts for years not only delay delivery but inflate budgets, as contractors’ factor in legal uncertainties and extended timelines.

By offering arbitration, mediation, and adjudication outside the courtroom, ADR promises quicker, less adversarial outcomes. For engineers, this speed is a necessity. The GhIE ADR Centre is being positioned as a national safeguard against wasted resources and broken promises.

A Distinctive Model Of Technical Expertise And Legal Authority

Although Ghana has other ADR institutions, the GhIE’s Centre is distinguished by its sectoral focus and technical grounding. Engineering disputes are not like ordinary commercial disagreements. They often hinge on technical details, whether a foundation was built to specification, if a road material meets required standards, or how contract variations should be costed. These are issues that demand specialized knowledge to adjudicate fairly.

“Many disputes have in the past been shipped abroad for resolution, handled by people who may not fully understand Ghana’s local realities. This Centre will build national capacity to solve such problems ourselves, with both legal and technical expertise at the table.” Noted Ing. David K. Nyante, one of the engineers involved in shaping the Centre’s mission.

To achieve this, the Centre’s board blends the authority of seasoned judges with the practical insights of engineers. This hybrid model ensures that rulings are not only enforceable in law but also grounded in the technical realities of Ghanaian practice. By rooting decision-making in local expertise, the Centre also reduces the reliance on foreign tribunals, which drain national resources and sometimes deliver judgments out of sync with Ghana’s development priorities.

Leveling the Field for Benefit

The creation of the ADR Centre signals benefits for a wide spectrum of stakeholders. For contractors, especially small and medium enterprises, ADR provides an affordable and accessible forum for resolving conflicts. Traditional litigation is not only slow but costly, often putting smaller firms at a disadvantage when locked in disputes with larger companies or government agencies. By leveling the playing field, ADR makes the industry more inclusive and sustainable.

Government, too, gains from this development. Ministries and agencies engaged in public works frequently find themselves embroiled in disputes that freeze project execution. With an in-house mechanism designed to resolve such conflicts swiftly, projects can move from planning to completion without protracted interruptions. The ultimate beneficiaries, however, are the communities whose development depends on timely infrastructure delivery.

“This is not just about engineers. It is about safeguarding national development. Every project delayed is a hospital not built or a community cut off from opportunity. By resolving disputes faster, we all benefit.” Ing. Nyante stressed.

Complementing the Judiciary

The launch of the Centre also carries implications for Ghana’s broader justice ecosystem. Far from positioning itself as a competitor to the courts, the GhIE ADR Centre was repeatedly described as a partner to the judiciary. By absorbing specialized disputes that might otherwise congest the courts, the Centre enhances the overall efficiency of justice delivery.

“The judiciary cannot do everything alone. Specialized ADR bodies like this one are crucial. They make justice delivery faster, more efficient, and closer to the communities it serves.”  Justice Ankomah noted.

This integration with the judiciary also boosts confidence in the Centre’s legitimacy. Hosting senior judges involved in its governance, the Centre sends a clear message that its rulings will be respected, enforceable, and aligned with national legal frameworks.

Looking Ahead: Sustainability and Global Reach

The inauguration was not only about celebrating a new institution but also about imagining its future. Beyond dispute resolution, the Centre has set itself the goal of becoming a hub for capacity building. Through training engineers as mediators, arbitrators, and adjudicators, it will cultivate a cadre of professionals equipped to foresee conflicts and embed dispute-avoidance mechanisms directly into project design and contracts.

“Disputes are easier to prevent. When we design projects, we must take all the steps needed to avoid disputes in the first place.” reminded Ing. Ludwig Annang Hesse, emphasizing the Centre’s preventive mission. There is also an international dimension. As infrastructure investment accelerates across Africa, the demand for specialized ADR mechanisms is growing. With the right structures, Ghana’s Centre could position itself as a regional leader, offering homegrown expertise to neighboring countries. This ambition is to expand their arms to other African countries, a pragmatic recognition that African engineering disputes are best resolved in Africa, by Africans who understand the technical, cultural, and institutional contexts.

Conclusion

The inauguration of the GhIE ADR Centre transcended a formal swearing-in of board members, it pivoted on confronting the silent causes of stalled developmental projects.  When projects grind to a halt, the public often sees abandoned sites and surging costs, often oblivious to the disputes tied up in courtrooms for years. These hidden battles drain resources, extend timelines, and blur out trust. By introducing a system that blends legal authority with engineering expertise, the Centre tackles this problem at its root. It offers contractors, government, and communities a quicker, fairer approach to resolution one that keeps Ghana building instead of waiting.