Ghana’s roads, bridges, and housing projects are too often left half-finished, not because of a lack of funding or materials, but because of disputes that drag on in court for years.

To change this, the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) has launched an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre, a specialised hub to settle conflicts in the engineering and construction sector quickly, fairly, and with technical expertise at the core.

Speaking at the launch in Accra on September 11, 2025, GhIE President, Ing. Ludwig Annang Hesse, said the Centre was a statement of intent: “Engineers are no longer willing to allow conflicts to derail national development.”

Why This Matters

Disagreements between contractors and state agencies, wrangles over contract terms, or disputes about design specifications have long stalled projects. When these cases end up in Ghana’s overburdened courts, they can take years to resolve, driving up costs and eroding public trust.

The new ADR Centre promises faster outcomes through mediation, arbitration, and adjudication without the long wait in the courtroom.

Unique to Ghana

Unlike other ADR bodies, the GhIE Centre focuses specifically on engineering and construction disputes.

“Many disputes were previously handled abroad by people unfamiliar with Ghana’s realities,” said Ing. David K. Nyante, one of the architects of the initiative.

“This Centre builds national capacity, blending legal authority with engineering know-how.”

This hybrid approach means rulings will be legally binding but also grounded in the technical realities of Ghanaian projects.

Levelling the Playing Field

The Centre is also expected to make the industry fairer. Small and medium contractors, who often cannot afford lengthy court battles, now have an accessible way to resolve disputes.

Government agencies will benefit too, as disputes can be settled quickly, ensuring projects like hospitals, roads, and schools are completed on time.

Ultimately, communities are the biggest winners, as faster dispute resolution means fewer abandoned sites and more completed projects.

Partnering the Courts, Not Replacing Them

Legal practitioner Justice Ace Ankomah underscored the value of the Centre, noting that it complements the judiciary by easing the backlog of technical cases.

Such collaboration, backed by the involvement of senior judges in the Centre’s governance, ensures its decisions are both respected and enforceable.

Looking Ahead

Beyond dispute resolution, the Centre aims to become a capacity-building hub, training engineers to serve as mediators and arbitrators and embedding dispute-avoidance strategies in project planning.

With Africa witnessing a boom in infrastructure investment, GhIE hopes to position Ghana as a regional leader in engineering ADR, serving not just Ghana but neighbouring countries.

The Bottom Line

The launch of the GhIE ADR Centre goes beyond ceremony. It directly tackles one of the hidden causes of stalled projects, disputes stuck in court.

By fusing law and engineering expertise, the Centre offers Ghana a practical path to keep building instead of waiting.ng.