Ghana archives four-year winning streak in International Arbitration
Over the past four years, Ghana has achieved an unparalleled record in international arbitration, winning every case it has faced without the aid of foreign counsel, according to Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame.
This remarkable achievement was highlighted by Dame during the commissioning of the Law House in Accra on Monday.
The feat according the Minister, underscores a broader vision of his office to build a modern legal service and strengthen the litigating capacity of the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, to rise to the demands of various facets of civil litigation and international arbitration.
He emphasized the significant improvement in the quality of state representation, attributing it to the enhanced capabilities of the Attorney-General’s Office.
“The quality of representation of the State by the Office of the Attorney-General has considerably increased as the State holds its own in most international arbitrations, without the aid of foreign counsel, and most importantly, has gone on to achieve tremendous success in this regard. Even though the last four years have seen an extraordinary upsurge in international arbitration cases against the State, conspicuously, the State has emerged victorious in all the awards given in the international arbitrations it has participated in,” he said .
A major component of creating a modern legal service, the Minister noted, is the operationalization of an integrated information management system for the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice. This system aims to fully digitize the office’s operations, streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency.
“A complete electronic management of all records at the office is non-negotiable. We cannot allow paper to clutter our working environment and destroy the beauty of what we have done with the Law House. Fully cognizant of the supreme benefits of technology, I will strive to augment the capacity of the Ministry to digitize its operations by adding a fully functional modern electronic law library to these facilities as well as ensuring a complete electronic management of records,” he said.
Dame also highlighted the importance of a well-resourced Attorney-General’s Department as a critical indicator of improved conditions in the practice of law in Ghana. He stressed the necessity of providing State Attorneys with the resources they need to perform their duties effectively.
He assured that efforts are underway to address the inadequate office space for regional offices of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, which often find themselves in suboptimal conditions.
“I am of the respectful view that every regional office of the Ministry of Justice ought to own at least a three-storey office. I have commenced discussions in this regard with the World Bank towards the possibility of funding this project,” Dame announced.
Additionally, he indicated ongoing efforts to secure funding for the construction of a modern permanent office for the Legal Aid Commission, aiming to further strengthen the legal infrastructure in Ghana.
