Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (No. 13 of 2017).

This Act concerns the voluntary mediation and arbitration of disputes in Ghana. This Act applies to matters other than those that relate to (a) the national or public interest; (b) the environment; (c) the enforcement and interpretation of the Constitution; or (d) any other matter that by law cannot be settled by an alternative dispute resolution method. Parties to a written agreement may provide that a dispute arising under the agreement shall be resolved by arbitration. Where there is an arbitration agreement and a party commences an action in a court, the other party may on entering appearance, and on notice to the party who commenced the action in court, apply to the court to refer the action or a part of the action to which the arbitration agreement relates, to arbitration. Where a court before which an action is pending is of the view that the action or a part of the action can be resolved through arbitration, that court may with the consent of the parties in writing, despite that there is no arbitration agreement in respect of the matter in dispute, refer the action or any part of the action for arbitration. The object of the Centre established by this Act is to facilitate the practice of alternative dispute resolution.
A court may with the consent of parties order a dispute pending before it to be submitted by the parties to customary arbitration. A customary arbitrator shall apply the rules of natural justice and fairness and is not obliged to apply any legal rules of procedure in the arbitration.