1.1                          

A party (“the Claimant”) wishing to submit a dispute to arbitration under the Ghana ADR Hub (the “Hub”) Rules shall deliver to the Administrator of the Hub (the “Administrator”) a written request for arbitra- tion (the “Request”), containing or accompanied by:

1. the names, postal addresses, email addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers (if known) of the parties to the arbitration and of their legal representatives (if known);
2. a copy of the Arbitration Agreement that is invoked by the Claimant or a copy of the contractual or other documentation in which the Arbitration Agreement is contained or in respect of which the arbitration arises, which- ever applies and any other relevant agreement;
3. a brief statement describing the nature and circumstances of the dispute, giving rise to the claim and the basis upon which the claim is made;
4. a brief statement of the relief sought by the Claimant against any other party to the arbitration together with the amount of any quantified claims and as much as possible an estimate of the monetary value of any other claims;
5. a statement of any procedural matters such as:
   1. the seat or language of the arbitration,
   2. the number of arbitrators, or their qualifications or identities as agreed by parties in writing or in respect of which the Claimant wishes to make a proposal;

1. where the arbitration agreement provides, the Claimant’s proposed nominee for arbitrator, his postal address, email address, telephone and facsimile numbers, if known;
2. any other document or information relevant to the efficient resolution of the

1.2                          

1. The Request for Arbitration shall be accompanied by payment, by check or transfer to the account of the Hub, of the fee required as filing fee of the Hub prescribed in the Schedule of Costs or confirmation of the transfer of the fee to the bank account of the
2. A Request shall only be deemed to be received and arbitration shall commence only after the Administrator has received the prescribed filing
3. Where the Claimant fails to comply with the requirements under Article 2(a) and (b), the Administrator may fix a time limit within which the Claimant must comply, failing which the file shall be closed without prejudice to the Claimant’s right to submit the same claim at a later date in another Request.

1.3                          

1. The date of receipt by the Administrator of the Request and the filing fee shall be treated as the date on which the arbitration has commenced for all
2. The Request (including all accompanying documents) shall be submitted to the Administrator with sufficient copies for each party, Administrator and sole arbitrator or
3. The Administrator shall transmit a copy of the Request and all other documents attached to the Request to the Respondent.

2.1                          

Within 14 days from the receipt of the Request from the Administrator, the Respondent shall send to the Administrator a written response (the “Response”) to the Request containing or accompanied by:

1. confirmation or denial of all or part of the claim made by the Claimant in the Request;
2. a brief statement describing the nature and circumstance of any counterclaim made by the Respondent against the Claimant together with a statement of the relief sought as well as the amount of any quantified counterclaim and as much as possible an estimate of the monetary value of any other counterclaim;
3. comment in response to any statement contained in the Request on procedural matters relating to the conduct of the arbitration;
4. if the Arbitration Agreement calls for party nomination of arbitrators, the name, postal address, email address, telephone and facsimile numbers (if known) of the Respondent’s nominee;
5. the statement of defence if the Request contained the statement of claim; and
6. such other document or information as the Respondent considers appropriate or as may contribute to the efficient resolution of the

2.2                            

The Response (including all accompanying documents) should be submitted to the Administrator with suffi- cient copies for each party, Administrator and sole arbitrator or arbitrators.

2.3                            

Failure to deliver a Response shall not preclude the Respondent from denying any claim or from advanc- ing a counterclaim in the arbitration. However, if the Arbitration Agreement calls for party nomination of arbitrators, failure to deliver a Response or to nomi- nate an arbitrator within time or at all shall constitute a waiver of that party’s opportunity to nominate an arbitrator unless the arbitral tribunal extends the time for such appointment under Article 6.7.

2.4                            

The Administrator shall provide a copy of the Response to the Request and any other document attached to the Response to all parties within 7 days from the receipt of the Response by the Administrator.

2.5                            

Parties may be represented or assisted by persons of their choice. The names, postal addresses, email addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers (if known) of such representatives shall be communicated in writing to the other party and the Administrator.

3.1                             

Claims arising out of or in connection with more than one contract may be made in a single arbitration whether or not such claims are made under one or more than one arbitration agreement under the Rules.

4.1                             

Subject to Article 4.2, at the request of a party, the Hub may consolidate two or more arbitrations pending under the Rules into a single arbitration.

4.2                             

The order for consolidation shall only be made by the Hub where all the parties agree to the consolidation of pending arbitrations.

4.3                             

In determining the request for consolidation, the Hub may consider the following:

1. whether the claims in the arbitrations are made under the same arbitration agreement; or
2. where the claims in the arbitrations are made under more than one arbitration agreement, the arbitrations are between the same parties, the disputes in the arbitrations arise in connection with the same legal relationship and the Hub finds the arbitration agreements to be compatible; or
3. any other circumstance which the Hub considers relevant including whether or not one or more arbitrators have been confirmed or appointed in more than one of the arbitrations and, if so, whether the same or different persons have been confirmed or

4.4                             

Unless otherwise agreed by all parties, arbitrations to be consolidated shall be consolidated into the arbi- tration that commenced first.

5.1                             

Subject to Article 11, all communications from any party or arbitrator to the Hub shall be addressed to the Administrator.

6.1                             

All notifications or communications, including Request for Arbitration and Response to Request for Arbitration, that may be or is required to be given by a party or an arbitrator under the Rules shall be in writing and shall be delivered by registered postal or courier service or transmitted by facsimile, e-mail or any other means of telecommunication that provide a record of its transmission.

6.2                            

A party’s last-known residence or place of business during the arbitration shall be a valid address for the purpose of any notice or other communication in the absence of any notification of a change of such address by that party to the other parties, the Arbitral Tribunal and the Administrator.

6.3                            

In determining the date of commencement of a time- limit, a written communication shall be treated as having been received by a party on the day it is delivered or, in the case of telecommunications, transmitted in accordance with Articles 6.1 and 6.2.

6.4                            

For the purpose of determining compliance with a time-limit, a written communication shall be treated as having been sent by a party if it is made or trans- mitted in accordance with Articles 6.1 and 6.2 prior to or on the date of the expiration of the time-limit.

6.5                            

Notwithstanding the above, any notice or communication by one party may be addressed to another party in the manner agreed in writing between them or, failing such agreement, according to the practice followed in the course of their previous dealings or in whatever manner ordered by the Arbitral Tribunal.

6.6                            

For the purpose of calculating a period of time under the Rules, such period shall begin to run on the day following the day when a notice or other communication is received. If the last day of such period is an official holiday or a non-business day at the residence or place of business of the addressee, the period is extended until the first business day which follows. Official holidays or non-business days occurring during the running of the period of time are included in calculating that period.

6.7                            

The Arbitral Tribunal may at any time extend (even where the period of time has expired) or abridge any period of time prescribed under the Rules or under the Arbitration Agreement for the conduct of the arbitration, or provided by the Arbitral Tribunal’s own orders, including any notice or communication to be delivered by one party to any other party.

7.1                             

The expression “the Arbitral Tribunal” in the Rules includes a sole arbitrator or all the arbitrators where more than one.

7.2                             

Every arbitrator shall be and remain impartial and independent of the parties involved in the arbitration and shall not act as an advocate for any party. No arbitrator, whether before or after appointment, shall advise any party on the merits or outcome of the dispute.

7.3                             

Before appointment or confirmation, a prospective arbitrator shall furnish to the Administrator a written resume of his past and present professional positions; he shall sign a written declaration stating:

1. whether there are any circumstances known to him likely to give rise to any justifiable doubts as to his impartiality or independence, other than any circumstances disclosed by him in the declaration; and

1. whether he is able and willing to devote sufficient time and industry to ensure the expeditious conduct of the
2. Each arbitrator shall assume a continuing duty forthwith to disclose any circumstances likely to give rise to any justifiable doubts as to his impartiality or independence to the Administrator, to any other members of the Arbitral Tribunal and to all the parties if such circumstances arise after the date of his declaration and before the arbitration is

Appointment Procedure for Sole Arbitrator

7.4                             

Where the parties have agreed that a sole arbitrator is to be appointed and if within 21 days of receipt by all other parties of a proposal for the appointment of a sole arbitrator the parties have not reached agreement thereon on the matter, a sole arbitrator shall, at the request of a party, be appointed by the Administrator.

7.5                             

In making the appointment the Administrator shall use the following list procedure unless the parties agree that the list procedure should not be used or unless the Administrator determines, in their discretion, that the use of the list procedure is not appropriate for the case:

1. the Administrator shall send to each of the parties an identical list containing at least 5
2. within 15 days of the receipt of the list, each party shall return the list to the Administrator after having deleted the name to which it objects and number the remaining names on the list in the order of
3. After the expiration of the 15 day period, the Administrator shall make the appointment from among the names approved on the returned list and in accordance with the order of pref- erence indicated by the
4. If a party does not return the list within the time specified, all persons named therein shall be deemed acceptable to that
5. If for any reason the appointment cannot be made according to this procedure, the Administrator may in its discretion repeat the list procedure or appoint the arbitrator from the list without further recourse to the

Appointment Procedure for a Three Member Tribunal

7.6                             

If three arbitrators are to be appointed, each party shall appoint one arbitrator. The two arbitrators thus appointed shall choose the third arbitrator who will act as the presiding arbitrator of the Arbitral Tribunal.

7.7                             

If within 21 days of the receipt of a party’s notification of the appointment of an arbitrator, the other party has not notified the first party of the arbitrator it has appointed, the first party may request the Administrator to appoint the second arbitrator.

7.8                             

If within 14 days after the appointment of the second arbitrator the two arbitrators have not agreed on the presiding arbitrator, the presiding arbitrator shall be appointed by the Administrator in the same way as a sole arbitrator would be appointed under article 7.4

Three Or More Parties (Multi Party Arbitrators)

7.9                             

Where three arbitrators are to be appointed and there are multiple parties as claimant and respondent, unless the parties have agreed to another method of appointment of arbitrators, the multiple parties jointly whether as Claimant or as Respondent, shall appoint an arbitrator. If any side or both sides are unable to agree on an arbitrator within 21 days of a request to compose the arbitral tribunal, the Administrator shall appoint the arbitrator for the defaulting side or for both if they are all in default.

7.10                             

Where the parties have not agreed on the number of arbitrators in their arbitration agreement, a single arbitrator will be appointed in accordance with Article 7.5, unless the Administrator determines that in the light of the complexity of the subject matter, or the value of the dispute, a tribunal of three is desirable in which case the panel will be composed in accordance with Articles 7.6, 7.7, 7.8 and 7.9.

8.1                             

Where the parties are of different nationalities, a sole arbitrator or chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal shall not have the same nationality as any party unless the parties who are not of the same nationality as the proposed arbitrator all agree in writing otherwise.

8.2                            

The nationality of parties shall be understood to include that of controlling shareholders or interests.

9.1                             

An arbitrator may be challenged if circumstances exist that give rise to justifiable doubts as to the arbitra- tor’s impartiality or independence or if the arbitrator does not possess the requisite qualification agreed upon by the parties.

9.2                            

A party may challenge an arbitrator appointed by that party only for reasons of which that party becomes aware after the appointment has been made.

9.3                            

A challenge of an arbitrator, whether for an alleged lack of impartiality or independence or otherwise, shall be made by the submission to the Administrator of a written statement specifying the facts and circum- stances on which the challenge is based.

9.4                             

For a challenge to be admissible, it must be submit- ted by a party either within 14 days from receipt by that party of the notification of the appointment or confirmation of the arbitrator, or within 14 days from the date when the party making the challenge was informed of the facts and circumstances on which the challenge is based if such date is subsequent to the receipt of such notification.

9.5                             

The Hub shall decide on the admissibility and, at the same time, if necessary, on the merits of a challenge after the Administrator has afforded an opportunity for the arbitrator concerned, the other party and any other member of the Arbitral Tribunal to comment in writing within 7 days after receiving comments by the challenging party.

9.6                            

The Hub may order a suspension of the arbitration until the challenge is resolved.

9.7                             

Subject to Article 9.6, the challenged arbitrator shall be entitled to proceed in the arbitration pending the determination of the challenge.

9.8                            

The Hub may fix the costs of the challenge and may direct by whom and how such costs should be borne.

9.9                             

The decision of the Hub made under this Article shall be final and not subject to appeal.

10.1                           

An arbitrator shall be replaced upon death or upon acceptance by the Hub of the arbitrator’s resignation or upon acceptance by the Hub of a challenge or upon acceptance by the Hub of a request by all the parties.

10.2                           

An arbitrator shall also be replaced on the Hub’s own initiative if it decides that the arbitrator is prevented de jure or de facto from fulfilling the arbitrator’s functions, or that the arbitrator is not fulfilling those functions in accordance with the Rules or within the prescribed time limits.

10.3                           

When, on the basis of information that has come to its attention, the Administrator considers applying Article 10(2), it shall decide on the matter after the concerned arbitrator, the parties and any other members of the Arbitral Tribunal have had an opportunity to comment in writing within a suitable period of time. Such comments shall be communicated to the parties and to the arbitrators.

10.4                           

When an arbitrator is to be replaced, the original nominating process of the replaced arbitrator shall be followed.

10.5                           

Any hearing held under the previous Arbitral Tribunal, where the Arbitral Tribunal was made up of a sole arbitrator shall be repeated unless otherwise agreed by the parties. In any other case, the Arbitral Tribunal shall determine if and to what extent prior proceedings shall be repeated before the reconstituted Arbitral Tribunal after inviting the parties to comment.

11.1                           

Until the Arbitral Tribunal is formed, all communications between parties and arbitrators shall be made through the Administrator.

11.2                           

Thereafter, unless the Arbitral Tribunal directs that communications shall take place directly between the Arbitral Tribunal and the parties (with simultaneous copies to the Administrator), all written communications between the parties and the Arbitral Tribunal shall continue to be made through the Administrator.

11.3                           

Where the Administrator sends any written communication to one party on behalf of the Arbitral Tribunal, he shall send a copy to the other party. Where any party sends any communication to the Administrator, it shall include a copy for each arbitrator and party.

12.1                           

The parties may agree on the conduct of the arbitration and parties are strongly encouraged to do so in consultation with the Arbitral Tribunal giving consideration to the need to conduct the arbitration in an expeditious and cost-effective manner having regard to the complexity and value of the dispute and consistent with the Arbitral Tribunal’s general duties.

12.2                           

Such agreements shall be made by the parties in writing, or recorded in writing by the Arbitral Tribunal at the parties’ request and with their authority.

12.3                           

The Arbitral Tribunal’s general duties at all times shall include:

1. a duty to act fairly and impartially as between all parties, giving each a reasonable opportunity of putting its case and dealing with that of its opponent; and
2. a duty to adopt procedures suitable to the circum- stances of the arbitration, avoiding unnecessary delay or expense, so as to provide a fair, efficient, and expeditious means for the final resolution of the parties’

12.4                           

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties under Article 12.1, the Arbitral Tribunal shall have the widest discretion to discharge its general duties subject to such mandatory law or rule of law as the Arbitral Tribunal may determine to be applicable; and at all times the parties shall do everything necessary for the fair, efficient and expeditious conduct of the arbitration.

12.5                           

The Arbitral Tribunal shall determine the relevance, materiality and admissibility of all evidence. Evidence need not to be admissible in law.

12.6                           

Subject to Article 19.1, the Arbitral Tribunal shall conduct a case management conference, in person or by electronic means to discuss the procedure that will be most appropriate and efficient for the case.

12.7                           

The Arbitral Tribunal may direct the order of proceedings, exclude cumulative or irrelevant testimony and direct the parties to focus their presentations on issues the decision of which could dispose of all or any part of the case.

12.8                           

The Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal may, with the prior consent of the other arbitrators, make procedural rulings alone.

12.9                           

The parties undertake to comply with any order made by the Arbitral Tribunal.

12.10                           

Pursuant to the request of a party, the Arbitral Tribunal may make orders concerning the confidentiality of the arbitration proceedings or of any other matters in connection with the arbitration and may take measures for protecting trade secrets and confidential information.

13                              

The Proceedings before the Arbitral Tribunal shall be governed by these Rules. Where the Rules are silent, the rules that shall govern the proceedings shall be the rules which the parties agree on or in case of failure of the parties, the Arbitral Tribunal may settle on the rules to govern the proceedings whether or not reference is thereby made to the rules of procedure of a national law to be applied to the arbitration.

14.1                           

Unless the parties have agreed otherwise or the Arbitral Tribunal determines differently, the written stage of the proceedings shall be as set out in this Article.

14.2                           

Within 30 days of receipt of written notification from the Administrator of the formation of the Arbitral Tribunal, the Claimant shall deliver to the Administrator either:

1. its written election to have its Request treated as its Statement of Claim; or
2. its written Statement of Claim setting out in sufficient detail the facts and legal submissions on which it relies, together with the relief claimed against all other parties and other relevant documents, insofar as such matters have not been set out in its

14.3                           

Within 21 days of receipt of the Statement of Claim or written notice from the Claimant that it elects to treat the Request as its Statement of Claim, the Respondent shall deliver to the Administrator a Statement of Defence setting out in sufficient detail which of the facts and legal submissions in the Statement of Claim or Request (as the case may be) it admits or denies, on what grounds and on what other facts and legal submissions it relies. Any counterclaims shall be submitted with the Statement of Defence in the same manner as claims are to be set out in the Statement of Claim.

14.4                           

Within 7 days of receipt of the Statement of Defence, the Claimant shall send to the Administrator a Statement of Reply which, where there are any counterclaims, shall include a Defence to Counterclaim in the same manner as a defence is to be set out in the Statement of Defence.

14.5                           

If the Statement of Reply contains a Defence to Counterclaim, within 7 days of its receipt the Respondent shall send to the Administrator a Statement of Reply to Defence to Counterclaim if so desired.

14.6                           

All Statements referred to in this Article shall be accompanied by copies (or, if they are especially voluminous, lists) of all essential documents on which the party concerned relies and which have not previously been submitted by any party, and (where appropriate) by any relevant samples and exhibits.

14.7

As soon as practicable following receipt of the Statements specified in this Article, the Arbitral Tribunal shall proceed in such manner as has been agreed in writing by the parties or pursuant to its authority under the Rules and in accordance with its general duties.

14.8                           

If the Respondent fails to submit a Statement of Defence or the Claimant a Statement of Defence to Counterclaim within the time limit specified, or if at any point any party fails to avail itself of the opportunity to present its case in the manner directed by the Arbitral Tribunal, the Arbitral Tribunal may nevertheless proceed with the arbitration and make an award.

14.9                           

The timelines specified under this Article may be modified by the Arbitral Tribunal at the case management conference.

15.1                           

Parties may agree in writing the seat of their arbitration. Failing such a choice, the seat of arbitration shall be Ghana unless and until the Administrator determines in view of all the circumstances, and after having given the parties an opportunity to make written comments, that another seat is more appropriate.

15.2                           

The Arbitral Tribunal may hold hearings, meetings and deliberations at any convenient geographical place in its discretion; and if elsewhere than the seat of the arbitration, the arbitration shall be treated as an arbitration conducted at the seat of the arbitration and any award as an award made at the seat of the arbitration for all purposes.

16                            

Subject to Article 24.4, the law applicable to the Arbitration Agreement and the arbitration shall be the arbitration law of the seat of arbitration, unless and to the extent that the parties have expressly agreed in writing on the application of another law or rules of law and such agreement is not prohibited by the law of the arbitral seat.

17.1                            

In the absence of an agreement by the parties, the

Arbitral Tribunal shall determine the language of the arbitration, due regard being given to all relevant circumstances, including the language of the contract.

17.2                           

If a document is drawn up in a language other than the language of the arbitration and no translation of such document is submitted by the party relying upon the document, the Arbitral Tribunal or (if the Arbitral Tribunal has not been formed) the Administrator shall request that party to submit a translation by an official authority of the country from which the document emanates in the language of the arbitration.

18.1                           

Any party may be represented by a legal practitioner or any other representative of their choice.

18.2                           

At any time, the Arbitral Tribunal may require from any party proof of authority granted to its representative in such form as the Arbitral Tribunal may determine.

18.3                           

Any intended change of or addition by a party to its legal representative shall be notified promptly in writing to all other parties, the Arbitral Tribunal and the Administrator; and any such intended change or addition shall only take effect in the arbitration subject to the approval of the Arbitral Tribunal.

18.4                           

The Arbitral Tribunal may withhold the approval of any intended change or addition to a party’s legal representative where such change or addition could compromise the composition of the Arbitral Tribunal or the finality of any award (on the grounds of possible conflict or similar impediment). In deciding whether to grant or withhold such approval, the Arbitral Tribunal shall have regard to the circumstances, including the general principle that a party may be represented by a legal representative chosen by that party, the stage which the arbitration has reached, the efficiency resulting from maintaining the composition of the Arbitral Tribunal and any likely wasted costs or loss of time resulting from such change or addition.

19.1                            

The Arbitral Tribunal shall, within 7 days of being appointed and upon giving 7 days written notice to the parties, convene a case management conference to consult the parties on procedural measures that may be adopted.

19.2                           

During the case management conference, the Arbitral Tribunal shall establish the procedural timetable that it intends to follow for the conduct of the arbitration including a date to be set for drawing up the Terms of Reference pursuant to Article 20. The procedural timetable and any modifications thereto shall be communicated to the Hub and the parties.

19.3                           

To ensure continued effective case management, the Arbitral Tribunal, after consulting the parties by means of a further case management conference or otherwise, may adopt further procedural measures or modify the procedural timetable.

19.4                            

Case management conferences may be conducted through a meeting in person, by video conference, telephone or similar means of communication. In the absence of an agreement by the parties, the Arbitral Tribunal shall determine the means by which the case management conference will be conducted. The Arbitral Tribunal may request the parties to submit case management proposals in advance of a case management conference and may request the attendance at any case management conference of the parties in person or through a representative.

20.1                          

After the submission of all documents within the time specified in Article 14 or as modified at the case management conference, the Arbitral Tribunal shall draw up a document defining its terms of reference. The terms of reference may be drawn up on the basis of the documents submitted or at a meeting with the parties in person.

20.2                           

The terms of reference shall contain the following particulars:

1. the names in full, description, postal and email addresses and other contact details of each party and any person representing a party in the arbitration;
2. a summary of the parties’ respective claims and of the relief sought by each party together with the amounts of any quantified claims, and to the extent possible, an estimate of the monetary value of any other claims;
3. the addresses to which notifications and communications arising in the course of the arbitration may be made;
4. a list of issues to be determined unless the Arbitral Tribunal determines otherwise;
5. the names in full, address and other contact details of each arbitrator;
6. the place of the arbitration; and
7. particulars of the applicable procedural rules and, if such is the case, reference to the power conferred upon the Arbitral Tribunal to act as amiable compositeur or to decide ex aequo et bono, subject to Article 4.

20.3                          

The Terms of Reference signed by the Arbitral tribu- nal and the parties shall be submitted to the Hub.

20.4                          

If a party refused to partake in the drawing up of the Terms of Reference or to sign the same, the Terms of Reference shall be submitted to the Hub for approval.

20.5                          

When the Terms of Reference have been signed or approved by the Hub, the arbitration shall proceed.

20.6                          

After the Terms of Reference have been signed by the Arbitral Tribunal, no party shall make any new claims which fall outside the limits of the Terms of Reference unless it has been authorised to do so by the Arbitral Tribunal, which shall consider the nature of such new claims, the stage of the arbitration and other relevant circumstance.

21.1                          

When a hearing is to be held, the Arbitral Tribunal, giving reasonable notice, shall summon the parties to appear before it on the day and at the place fixed by it.

21.2                          

If any of the parties, although duly summoned, fails to appear without valid excuse, the Arbitral Tribunal shall have the power to proceed with the hearing.

21.3                          

The Arbitral Tribunal shall be in full charge of the hearings, at which all the parties shall be entitled to be present. Unless approved by the Arbitral Tribunal and the parties, persons not involved in the proceedings shall not be admitted.

21.4                          

The parties may appear in person or through duly authorized representatives. In addition, they may be assisted by advisers

21.5                          

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, all meetings and hearings shall be in private and any record, transcript or document used shall remain confidential.

22.1                          

Before any hearing, the Arbitral Tribunal may require any party to give notice of the identity of each witness that party wishes to call (including rebuttal witnesses), as well as the subject matter of that witness’s testimony, its content and its relevance to the issues in the arbitration.

22.2                          

The Arbitral Tribunal may also determine the time, manner and form in which such materials should be exchanged between the parties and presented to the Arbitral Tribunal; and it has a discretion to allow, refuse, or limit the appearance of witnesses (whether witness of fact or expert witness).

22.3                          

Subject to any order otherwise made by the Arbitral Tribunal, the testimony of a witness may be presented by a party in written form, either as a signed statement or as a sworn affidavit.

22.4                          

A party may request that a witness, on whose testimony another party seeks to rely, should attend for oral questioning at a hearing before the Arbitral Tribunal. If the Arbitral Tribunal directs that other party to produce the witness for questioning and the party fails to do so without satisfying the Arbitral Tribunal that it is unable to procure the attendance of that witness, the Arbitral Tribunal may place such weight on the written testimony (or exclude the same altogether) as it considers appropriate in the circumstances of the case.

22.5                          

Any witness who gives oral evidence at a hearing before the Arbitral Tribunal may be questioned by each of the parties under the control of the Arbitral Tribunal. The Arbitral Tribunal may put questions to the witness at any stage of his evidence.

22.6                          

Subject to the mandatory provisions of any applicable law and any order of the Arbitral Tribunal otherwise, it shall not be improper for any party or that party’s legal representatives to interview any witness or potential witness for the purpose of presenting that witness’s testimony in written form or producing the witness as oral witness.

22.7                          

Any individual intending to testify to the Arbitral Tribunal on any issue of fact or expertise shall be treated as a witness under the Rules notwithstanding that the individual is a party to the arbitration or was or is an officer, employee or shareholder of any party.

23.1                          

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing, the Arbitral Tribunal:

1. may appoint one or more experts to report to the Arbitral Tribunal on specific issues, who shall be and remain impartial and independent of the parties throughout the arbitration proceedings; and
2. may require a party to give any such expert any relevant information or to provide access to any relevant documents, goods, samples, property or site for inspection by the

23.2                          

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing, if a party so requests or if the Arbitral Tribunal considers it necessary, the expert shall, after delivery of the written or oral report to the Arbitral Tribunal and the parties, participate in one or more hearings at which the parties shall have the opportunity to question the expert on the report and to present expert witnesses in order to testify on the points at issue.

23.3                          

The fees and expenses of any expert appointed by the Arbitral Tribunal under this Article shall be paid out of the deposits made by the parties and shall form part of the costs of the arbitration.

24.1                          

Unless the parties agree otherwise in writing, the Arbitral Tribunal shall have the power, on the application of any party or on its own motion, but in either case only after giving the parties a reasonable opportunity to state their views:

1. to allow a party, upon such terms (as to costs and otherwise) as it shall determine, to supplement, modify or amend any claim, counterclaim, defence and reply, including a Request, Response and any other written statement submit- ted by such party;
2. to conduct such enquiries as may appear to the Arbitral Tribunal to be necessary or expedient, including whether and to what extent the Arbitral Tribunal should itself take the initiative in identifying the issues and ascertaining the relevant facts and the law or rules of law applicable to the arbitration, the merits of the parties’ dispute and the Arbitration Agreement;
3. to order any party to make any document, goods, samples, property, site or thing under its control and relating to the subject matter of the arbitration available for inspection by the Arbitral Tribunal, any other party, its expert or any expert to the Arbitral Tribunal;

1. to order any party to produce to the Arbitral Tribunal, and to the other parties for inspection, and to supply copies of, any document or class of documents in their possession, custody or power which the Arbitral Tribunal deter- mines to be relevant;
2. to decide whether or not to apply any strict rules of evidence (or any other rules) as to the admissibility, relevance or weight of any material tendered by a party on any matter of fact or expert opinion; and to determine the time, manner and form in which such material should be exchanged between the parties and presented to the Arbitral Tribunal;
3. to order the correction of any contract between the parties or the Arbitration Agreement, but only to the extent required to rectify any mistake which the Arbitral Tribunal determines to be common to the parties and then only if and to the extent to which the law or rules of law applicable to the contract or Arbitration Agreement permit such correction; and
4. to allow, only upon the application of a party or a third person, one or more third persons to be joined in the arbitration as a party provided any such third person and the parties have consented thereto in writing, and thereafter to make a single final award, or separate awards, in respect of all parties so implicated in the arbitration;

24.2                          

By agreeing to arbitration under the Rules, the parties shall be treated as having agreed not to apply to any State court or other judicial authority for any order available from the Arbitral Tribunal, including the determination of any question of law that arises in the course of the process except with the agreement in writing of all parties.

24.3                          

The Arbitral Tribunal shall decide the parties’ dispute in accordance with the law or rules of law chosen by the parties as applicable to the substance of their dispute. If and to the extent that the Arbitral Tribunal determines that the parties have made no such choice, the Arbitral Tribunal shall apply the law or rules of law which it considers appropriate.

24.4                          

The Arbitral Tribunal shall only apply to the substance of the dispute principles deriving from “ex aequo et bono”, “amiable compositeur” or “honourable engagement” where the parties have so agreed expressly in writing.

24.5                          

At any time during the proceedings, the Arbitral Tribunal may summon any party to provide additional evidence.

24.6                          

The Arbitral Tribunal may decide the case solely on the documents submitted by the parties unless any of the parties requests a hearing.

24.7                          

In all cases, the Arbitral Tribunal shall decide in accordance with the terms of the contract and shall take into account the usages of the trade applicable to the transaction and the legal relationship.

 25.1                          

The Arbitral Tribunal shall have the power to rule on its own jurisdiction where a party raises an objection including any objection to the initial or continuing existence, scope, validity or effectiveness of the Arbitration Agreement or any objection to the existence or validity of the agreement to which the Arbitration Agreement relates or any objection whether the matters submitted to arbitration are in accordance with the Arbitration Agreement. For that purpose, an arbitration clause or agreement which forms or was intended to form part of another agreement shall be treated as an arbitration agreement separate and independent of that other agreement. A decision by the Arbitral Tribunal that such other agreement is non-existent, invalid or ineffective shall not entail the non-existence, invalidity or ineffectiveness of the arbitration clause.

25.2                          

Where a Respondent claims that the Arbitral Tribunal does not have jurisdiction, that claim shall be treated as having been irrevocably waived unless it is raised not later than the statement of defence; and a like claim by a Respondent to counterclaim shall be similarly treated unless it is raised no later than the statement of defence to the counterclaim. A claim that the Arbitral Tribunal is exceeding the scope of its authority shall be raised promptly after the Arbitral Tribunal has indicated its intention to decide on the matter alleged by any party to be beyond the scope of its authority, failing which such claim shall also be treated as having been waived irrevocably. In any case, the Arbitral Tribunal may nevertheless admit an untimely claim if it considers the delay justified in the particular circumstances.

25.3                          

The Arbitral Tribunal may determine the claim to its jurisdiction or authority in an award as to jurisdiction or later in an award on the merits, as it considers appropriate in the circumstances.

25.4                          

A party dissatisfied with the arbitral tribunal’s rules on jurisdiction may on notice to the Arbitral Tribunal and all other parties apply to the Hub for a determination of the arbitrators jurisdiction.

25.5                          

An application under Article 25.4 shall be made within seven (7) days of the Arbitral Tribunal’s ruling and shall state the reasons for the application.

25.6                          

The Hub may consider and grant the application if it is satisfied that

1. the application was made within the stipulated time
2. there is jurisdiction for the Hub to intervene

25.7                          

Unless the parties otherwise agree an application to the hub under Article 25.4 shall not serve as a stay of arbitral proceedings.

26.1                          

The Administrator may direct the parties, in such proportions as it thinks appropriate, to make one or several interim or final payments on account of the costs of the arbitration. Such deposits shall be made to and held by the Hub and from time to time may be released by the Administrator to the arbitrator, any expert appointed by the Arbitral Tribunal and the Hub itself as the arbitration progresses.

26.2                          

Save for exceptional circumstances, the Arbitral Tribunal shall not proceed with the arbitration without ascertaining at all times from the Administrator or any deputy Administrator that the Hub has the requisite funds as regards outstanding and future arbitration costs.

26.3                          

In the event that a party fails or refuses to provide any deposit as directed by the Administrator, the Administrator may direct the other party or parties to effect a substitute payment to allow the arbitration to proceed expeditiously (subject to any award on costs).

26.4                          

Failure by a Claimant or Counterclaimant to provide promptly and in full the required deposit may be treated by the Administrator and the Arbitral Tribunal as a withdrawal from the arbitration of the claim or counterclaim respectively, thereby removing such claim or counterclaim (as the case may be) from the scope of the arbitral Tribunal’s jurisdiction under the Arbitration Agreement, subject to any terms determined by the Arbitral Tribunal as to the reinstatement of the claim or counterclaim in the event of subsequent payment by the Claimant or Counterclaimant. Such a withdrawal shall not preclude the Claimant or Counterclaimant from defending as a Respondent any claim or counterclaim made by the other party.

27.1                          

Unless the parties have otherwise agreed, the Arbitral Tribunal may, at the request of a party, order any interim or conservatory measure it deems appropriate. The Arbitral Tribunal may make the granting of any such measure subject to appropriate security being furnished by the requesting party. Any such measure shall take the form of an order, giving reasons, or of an award, as the Arbitral Tribunal considers appropriate.

27.2                          

Notwithstanding Article 27.1, before the formation of the Arbitral Tribunal or after the formation of the Arbitral Tribunal but with the authorisation of the Arbitral Tribunal, a party may apply to any competent judicial authority for interim or conservatory measures. The application of a party to a judicial authority for such measures or for the implementation of any such measures ordered by an Arbitral Tribunal shall not be deemed to be an infringement or a waiver of the Arbitration Agreement and shall not affect the relevant powers reserved to the Arbitral Tribunal. Any such application and any measures taken by the judicial authority must be notified without delay to the Administrator. The Administrator shall then inform the Arbitral Tribunal of the application and measures taken by the judicial authority.

27.3                          

The application of a party to a judicial authority for such measures or for the implementation of any such measures ordered by an Arbitral Tribunal shall not operate as a stay of the arbitration proceedings unless the Arbitral Tribunal otherwise decides.

28.1                          

As soon as possible after the last hearing concerning the matters to be decided in an award or the filing of the last authorised submissions concerning such matters, the Arbitral Tribunal shall declare the proceedings closed with respect to the matters to be decided in the award and set a date for delivery of the final award.

28.2                          

After the proceedings are closed, no further submission or argument may be made, or evidence produced, with respect to the matters to be decided in the award unless the Arbitral Tribunal decides on its own or upon application by a party but before any award is made to reopen the proceedings.

28.3                          

Subject to Article 28.2, proceedings shall not be reopened without the agreement of the parties for an extension of time, if re-opening the proceedings will prevent the making of the award within the time specified in the Arbitration Agreement or the time agreed on by the parties for making an award or within the time specified in the Rules.

29.1                          

Within 45 days after close of proceedings, the Arbitral Tribunal shall make its award in writing and, unless all parties agree in writing otherwise, shall state the reasons upon which its award is based. The award shall also state the date when the award is made and the seat of the arbitration and it shall be signed by the Arbitral Tribunal or those of its members assenting to it.

29.2                          

If any arbitrator fails to comply with the mandatory provisions of any applicable law relating to the making of the award, having been given a reasonable opportunity to do so, the remaining arbitrators may proceed in his absence and state in their award the circum- stances of the other arbitrator’s failure to participate in the making of the award.

29.3                          

Where there are three arbitrators and the Arbitral Tribunal fails to agree on any issue, the arbitrators shall decide that issue by a majority. Failing a majority decision on any issue, the chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal shall decide that issue.

29.4                          

If any arbitrator refuses or fails to sign the award, the signatures of the majority or (failing a majority) of the chairman shall be sufficient, provided that the reason for the omitted signature is stated in the award by the majority or chairman.

29.5                          

The sole arbitrator or chairman shall be responsible for delivering the award to the Administrator, which shall transmit certified copies to the parties provided that the costs of arbitration have been paid to the Hub.

29.6                          

An award may be expressed in any currency. The Arbitral Tribunal may order that simple or compound interest shall be paid by any party on any sum awarded at such rates as the Arbitral Tribunal determines to be appropriate, without being bound by legal rates of interest imposed by any State court, in respect of any period which the Arbitral Tribunal determines to be appropriate ending not later than the date upon which the award is complied with.

29.7                          

The Arbitral Tribunal may make separate awards on different issues at different times. All awards made by the Arbitral Tribunal shall have the same status and effect.

29.8                          

In the event of a settlement of the parties’ dispute before the conclusion of arbitration, the Arbitral Tribunal may render an award recording the settlement if the parties so request in writing (a “Consent Award”), provided always that such award contains an express statement that it is an award made by the parties’ consent. A Consent Award need not contain reasons. If the parties do not require a consent award, then on written confirmation by the parties to the Administrator that a settlement has been reached, the Arbitral Tribunal shall be discharged and the arbitration proceedings concluded, subject to payment by the parties of any outstanding costs of the arbitration.

29.9                          

All awards shall be final and binding on the parties. By agreeing to arbitration under the Rules, the parties undertake to carry out any award immediately and without any delay and the parties also waive irrevocably their right to any form of appeal, review or recourse to any State court or other judicial authority, insofar as such waiver may be validly made.

30.1                          

Within 21 days of receipt of any award, or such lesser period as may be agreed in writing by the parties, a party may by written notice to the Administrator (copied to all other parties) request the Arbitral Tribunal to correct in the award any errors in computation, clerical or typographical errors or any errors of a similar nature. If the Arbitral Tribunal considers the request to be justified, it shall make the corrections within 14 days of receipt of the request. Any correction shall take the form of separate memorandum dated and signed by the Arbitral Tribunal or (if three arbitrators) those of its members assenting to it; and such memorandum shall become part of the award for all purposes.

30.2                          

The Arbitral Tribunal may likewise correct any error of the nature described in Article 30.1 on its own initiative within 21 days of the date of the award, to the same effect.

30.3                          

Within 21 days of receipt of the award, a party may by written notice to the Administrator (copied to all other parties), request the Arbitral Tribunal to make an additional award as to claims or counterclaims presented in the arbitration but not determined in any award. If the Arbitral Tribunal considers the request to be justified, it shall make the additional award within 21 days of receipt of the request.

31.1                          

The administration costs of the arbitration (other than the legal or other costs incurred by the parties themselves) shall be determined by the Administrator in accordance with the Hub’s Schedule of Costs in Schedule 2. The parties shall be jointly and severally liable to the Arbitral Tribunal and the Hub for such arbitration costs.

31.2                          

The fees of the Arbitral Tribunal shall be calculated by reference to work done by the Arbitral Tribunal in connection with the arbitration and shall be charged at rates appropriate to the particular circumstances of the case, including its complexity and any special qualifications of the Arbitral Tribunal.

31.3                          

The fees of the Arbitral Tribunal shall be advised by the Hub to the parties at the time of the appointment of the Arbitral Tribunal, but may be reviewed annually if the duration of the arbitration requires.

31.4                          

The Arbitral Tribunal shall specify in the award the total amount of the costs of the arbitration as deter- mined by the Administrator. Unless the parties agree otherwise in writing, the Arbitral Tribunal shall deter- mine the proportions in which the parties shall bear all or part of such arbitration costs. If the Arbitral Tribunal has determined that all or any part of the arbitration costs shall be borne by a party other than a party which has already paid them to the Hub, the latter party shall have the right to recover the appropriate amount from the former party.

31.5                          

The Arbitral Tribunal shall also have the power to order in its award that all or part of the legal or other costs incurred by a party be paid by another party, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing. The Arbitral Tribunal shall determine and fix the amount of each item comprising such costs on such reasonable basis as it thinks fit.

31.6                          

Unless the parties otherwise agree in writing, the Arbitral Tribunal shall make its orders on both arbitration and legal costs on the general principle that costs should reflect the parties’ relative success and failure in the award or arbitration, except where it appears to the Arbitral Tribunal that in the particular circumstances this general approach is inappropriate. Any order for costs shall be made with reasons in the award containing such order.

31.7                          

If the arbitration is abandoned, suspended or concluded, by agreement or otherwise, before the final award is made, the parties shall remain jointly and severally liable to pay to the Hub and the Arbitral Tribunal the costs of the arbitration as determined by the Administrator in accordance with the Hub’s Schedule of Costs in Schedule 2 of the Rules. In the event that such arbitration costs are less than the deposits made by the parties, there shall be a refund by the Hub in such proportion as the parties may agree in writing, or failing such agreement, in the same proportions as the deposits were made by the parties to the Hub.

32.1                          

The decisions of the Administrator with respect to all matters relating to the arbitration shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties and the Arbitral Tribunal. Such decisions are to be treated as administrative in nature and the Administrator shall not be required to give any reasons.

32.2                          

To the extent permitted by the law of the seat of the arbitration, the parties shall be taken to have waived any right of appeal or review in respect of any such decisions of the Administrator to any State court or other judicial authority. If such appeals or review remain possible due to mandatory provisions of any applicable law, the Administrator shall, subject to the provisions of that applicable law, decide whether the arbitral proceedings are to continue, notwithstanding an appeal or review.

33.1                          

Unless the parties expressly agree in writing to the contrary, the parties undertake as a general principle to keep confidential all awards in their arbitration, together with all materials in the proceedings created for the purpose of the arbitration and all other documents produced by another party in the proceedings not otherwise in the public domain, save and to the extent that disclosure may be required of a party by legal duty, to protect or pursue a legal right or to enforce or challenge an award in bona fide legal proceedings before a State court or other judicial State authority.

33.2                          

The deliberations of the Arbitral Tribunal are likewise confidential to its members, save and to the extent that disclosure of an arbitrator’s refusal to participate in the arbitration is required of the other members of the Arbitral Tribunal.

33.3                          

The Administrator shall not publish any award or any part of an award without the prior written consent of all parties and the Arbitral Tribunal.

34.1                          

The Hub (including their respective officers and employees), the Administrator, any deputy Administrator, any arbitrator and any expert to the Arbitral Tribunal shall not be liable to any party howsoever for any act or omission in connection with any arbitration conducted by reference to these Rules, except:

1. where the act or omission is shown by that party to constitute conscious and deliberate wrongdoing committed by the body or person alleged to be liable to that party; and
2. the extent to which any part of this provision is prohibited by any applicable

34.2                          

After the award has been made and all possibilities of any addendum or additional award under Article 30 have lapsed or been exhausted, the Hub (including their respective officers and employees), the Administrator, any deputy Administrator, any arbitrator or any expert to the Arbitral Tribunal shall not be under any legal obligation to make any statement to any person about any matter concerning the arbitration, nor shall any party seek to make any of these persons a witness in any legal or other proceedings arising out of the arbitration.

35.1                          

A party who knows that any provision of the Arbitration Agreement (including these Rules) has not been complied with and yet proceeds with the arbitration without promptly stating its objection to such non-compliance or within the time specified in the Arbitration Agreement, shall be treated as having irrevocably waived its right to object.

35.2                          

In all matters not expressly provided for in these Rules, the Administrator, the Arbitral Tribunal and the parties shall act in the spirit of these Rules and shall make every reasonable effort to ensure that an award is legally enforceable.

36.1                          

A party that submits an original document shall request in writing the retrieval of such documents within 9 months from the date of communication of a copy of the award to it. The Hub shall not be liable for any such original document upon the lapse of the 9 month period.

36.2                          

All copies of documents submitted by a party or arbitrator to the Hub and vice versa may be destroyed upon the lapse of 9 months from the date of communication of a copy of the award to the parties.

37.1                          

A party that requires urgent interim or conservatory measures that cannot wait the constitution of the Arbitral Tribunal (“Emergency Measures”) may make an application to the Hub for such interim or conservatory measures pursuant to the Hub’s Emergency Arbitrator Rules. Any such application shall be accepted only if it is received by the Administrator prior to the transmission of the file to the Arbitral Tribunal.

37.2                          

The Emergency Arbitrator’s decision shall take the form of an order and the parties undertake to comply with an order made by the Emergency Arbitrator.

37.3                          

The Emergency Arbitrator’s order shall not bind the Arbitral Tribunal with respect to any question, issue or dispute determined in the order. The Arbitral Tribunal may modify, terminate or annul the order or any modification to that order made by the Emergency Arbitrator.

37.4                          

The Arbitral Tribunal shall decide upon party’s requests or claims related to the Emergency Arbitrator proceedings, including the reallocation of the costs of such proceedings and any claims arising out of or in connection with the compliance or noncompliance with the order.

37.5                          

This Article shall apply only to parties that are either signatories to the Arbitration Agreement under the Rules that is relied upon for the application or successors to such signatories. This Article shall not apply if the parties have agreed to another pre-arbitral procedure that provides for the granting of interim, conservatory or similar measures or the parties have agreed to opt out of the application of this Article.

38.2                          

In these Rules:

1. ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the Ghana ADR Hub or other executive staff members of the Ghana ADR Hub
2. ‘Arbitral Tribunal’ includes one or more arbitrators;
3. ‘Award’ includes an interim, partial or final award;
4. ‘Hub’ means the Ghana ADR Hub
5. ‘party’ includes parties to the arbitration and their legal

38.2                          

Where the context so requires, the use of the masculine gender shall include the feminine or neuter genders and the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa, and the word ‘person’ shall include any corporation, firm, partnership or other form of association.