Dr. Dominic Ayine recently spoke about making arbitration fair and fast. As Attorney General and Justice Minister, he stressed that speed matters, but justice comes first. He shared these thoughts at the Second ICC Ghana Arbitration and ADR Day held in Accra. The event focused on balancing legal representation with tribunal involvement during arbitration.
Dr. Ayine wants arbitration tailored for different parties, especially when governments participate. He drew from personal experience as a former Deputy Attorney General. He described how hard it was to gather evidence from multiple government agencies. He also mentioned the red tape that slows down payments to lawyers, tribunals, and experts.
The Attorney General pushed for special arbitration rules designed for cases involving governments. He believes efficiency must work alongside proper legal process. The International Chamber of Commerce Ghana hosted this gathering, which brought local and international experts together to discuss new developments in arbitration.
Many important people attended, including Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo and Claudia Salmon, who heads the ICC Court of Arbitration. James Anaman, Acting Chairman of ICC Ghana, came along with the Ghana Bar Association Vice-Chair, Victoria Barth. Several government ministers also joined the event. The meeting allowed deep discussions about arbitration, justice, and efficiency.
Emmanuel Doni Kwame announced sad news during the meeting. Alhaji Asoma Banda, who founded ICC Ghana, had passed away the previous Saturday. He had planned to attend the event. The organizers wanted to honor past court members during the gathering. Many top practitioners from around the world attended after finishing the ICC Advanced Arbitration Academy for Africa training.
Claudia Salmon emphasized the ICC Court's dedication to Africa. She listed five concrete actions showing this commitment. African representation on the court has reached its highest level ever. The court has more than 30 African members and two vice presidents from Africa. Two members come from Ghana specifically. Diamana Diawara has served as Director for Africa since 2021, and her team continues to grow.
The ICC created a Young Arbitration and ADR Forum Chapter just for Africa. It has 15 young practitioners as representatives, including one Ghanaian. The Africa Commission helps develop a strategy for ICC dispute resolution across the continent and works to include more African practitioners in ICC arbitration processes. Last year marked the first Advanced Arbitration Academy for Africa, with its final session happening in Ghana.
Salmon praised ICC Ghana for organizing the program. She said it would create a new generation of qualified arbitrators from Africa. She explained how the International Chamber of Commerce began in 1919 with a specific vision. The founders wanted to build peace through business relationships between nations. She called them Merchants of Peace and said their mission continues more than 100 years later.
The goal remains to foster beneficial connections between countries through commerce. These connections increase prosperity and reduce conflicts, though much work remains. Salmon noted that arbitration helps resolve disputes smoothly. Cases requiring arbitration have increased worldwide. The ICC Court maintains high standards for arbitration integrity. It also focuses on making dispute resolution accessible and efficient for businesses globally.
Awards recognized all former Ghanaian representatives to the ICC International Court of Arbitration. Recipients included Nana Dr. S.K.B. Asante, Mr. Ace Ankomah, and the late Felix Ntrakwah. Justice Nene Amegatcher, Ms. Marietta Brew, and Kizito Beyuo also received recognition. Additional honorees included President John Dramani Mahama, Council of State Member Sophia Akuffo, and Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. The late Alhaji Asoma Banda, James Anaman, and Tafadzwa Pasipanodya completed the list of distinguished awardees.
Dr. Ayine wants arbitration tailored for different parties, especially when governments participate. He drew from personal experience as a former Deputy Attorney General. He described how hard it was to gather evidence from multiple government agencies. He also mentioned the red tape that slows down payments to lawyers, tribunals, and experts.
The Attorney General pushed for special arbitration rules designed for cases involving governments. He believes efficiency must work alongside proper legal process. The International Chamber of Commerce Ghana hosted this gathering, which brought local and international experts together to discuss new developments in arbitration.
Many important people attended, including Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo and Claudia Salmon, who heads the ICC Court of Arbitration. James Anaman, Acting Chairman of ICC Ghana, came along with the Ghana Bar Association Vice-Chair, Victoria Barth. Several government ministers also joined the event. The meeting allowed deep discussions about arbitration, justice, and efficiency.
Emmanuel Doni Kwame announced sad news during the meeting. Alhaji Asoma Banda, who founded ICC Ghana, had passed away the previous Saturday. He had planned to attend the event. The organizers wanted to honor past court members during the gathering. Many top practitioners from around the world attended after finishing the ICC Advanced Arbitration Academy for Africa training.
Claudia Salmon emphasized the ICC Court's dedication to Africa. She listed five concrete actions showing this commitment. African representation on the court has reached its highest level ever. The court has more than 30 African members and two vice presidents from Africa. Two members come from Ghana specifically. Diamana Diawara has served as Director for Africa since 2021, and her team continues to grow.
The ICC created a Young Arbitration and ADR Forum Chapter just for Africa. It has 15 young practitioners as representatives, including one Ghanaian. The Africa Commission helps develop a strategy for ICC dispute resolution across the continent and works to include more African practitioners in ICC arbitration processes. Last year marked the first Advanced Arbitration Academy for Africa, with its final session happening in Ghana.
Salmon praised ICC Ghana for organizing the program. She said it would create a new generation of qualified arbitrators from Africa. She explained how the International Chamber of Commerce began in 1919 with a specific vision. The founders wanted to build peace through business relationships between nations. She called them Merchants of Peace and said their mission continues more than 100 years later.
The goal remains to foster beneficial connections between countries through commerce. These connections increase prosperity and reduce conflicts, though much work remains. Salmon noted that arbitration helps resolve disputes smoothly. Cases requiring arbitration have increased worldwide. The ICC Court maintains high standards for arbitration integrity. It also focuses on making dispute resolution accessible and efficient for businesses globally.
Awards recognized all former Ghanaian representatives to the ICC International Court of Arbitration. Recipients included Nana Dr. S.K.B. Asante, Mr. Ace Ankomah, and the late Felix Ntrakwah. Justice Nene Amegatcher, Ms. Marietta Brew, and Kizito Beyuo also received recognition. Additional honorees included President John Dramani Mahama, Council of State Member Sophia Akuffo, and Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. The late Alhaji Asoma Banda, James Anaman, and Tafadzwa Pasipanodya completed the list of distinguished awardees.
