Obed favours arbitration

The Ghanaian Times in its lead story says Dr. Obed Asamoah, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, on Monday stressed, at an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Draft Bill meeting at Elmina, the need for ADR mechanism to enhance private sector investment.

This, Dr Asamoah reportedly said, is because of complaints from the business community that the court process takes too long and is expensive and that with increasing economic activity in the private sector the courts cannot cope with the expected rise in commercial disputes.

Dr Asamoah mentioned dispute resolution mechanisms such as arbitration under Act 38, of the 1961 Arbitration Act, the Industrial Relations Act and through CHRAJ but expressed regret that despite these arrangements ADR is not used as expected.

Dr Asamoah according to the story said that it was in that regard that the government had been giving serious consideration to the establishment of a more valuable ADR.

"It is necessary to have them, build confidence in them and have them accepted as an effective alternative to the court system," he is quoted to have said, enumerating several benefits that it hold. The bill is expected to replace the Arbitration Act of 1961, according to the Times.