ISDS Reform Coordination Meeting Held in Accra

Coordination meeting of the African Group Of Working Group III -Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) Reform, Accra, 17th-19th March 2025

The meeting was convened to discuss Africa’s position and contributions within the UNCITRAL Working Group III on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) reform. The session aimed to strengthen African engagement in ongoing reform efforts, foster collaboration among Member States, and ensure that Africa’s interests are well represented in global discussions on ISDS mechanisms.

The Permanent Representative of Ghana to the UN Agencies in Vienna, H.E. Matilda Aku Alomatu Osei-Agyeman, in her welcome address, emphasized the importance of Africa’s unified voice in international investment discussions. She highlighted Ghana’s commitment to ensuring that ISDS reform reflects Africa’s developmental needs, promoting a fair and balanced dispute settlement mechanism. The Ambassador stressed that Africa must take a proactive role in shaping reforms to ensure they align with the AfCFTA and other regional frameworks.

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ramses Joseph Cleland, speaking on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to safeguarding its interests in international investment law and dispute resolution.

According to him, the meeting would help African countries consolidate their positions and align the UNCITRAL reform process with the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment, thereby fostering a more predictable and equitable investment environment.

He emphasised Ghana’s active steps to host the Advisory Centre on International Investment Law which he stated, would create seamless synergies between the AfCFTA Secretariat and provide African countries with a crucial institutional mechanism to enhance legal and technical expertise in handling ISDS cases. Multiple benefits could be exacted from hosting the Advisory Centre , including strengthening the capacity of African states to navigate complex international disputes, reducing costly arbitration expenses and ensuring fairer outcomes for African governments, enhancing Africa’s legal and institutional framework to manage foreign investments effectively and reinforcing Ghana’s reputation as a hub for international trade and investment dispute resolution.

In the margins of the session, the Secretary of UNCITRAL, Ms. Anna Joubin-Bret held bilateral meetings with the Minister for Trade, Industry and Agribusiness, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, the Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney-General’s Department, Hon. Srem Sai and the CEO of the GIPC, Mr. Simon Madjie. All the meetings emphasised the direct relevance of UNCITRAL’s contributions to international legal frameworks and the impact on Ghana’s legal and economic development, particularly highlighting the Ghana’s interest in hosting the Advisory Centre/Regional Hub for Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).

The Ambassador and Permanent Representative, HE Matilda Alomatu Osei-Agyeman called for a strategic multil-sectoral approach by Ghana to enhance the country’s prospects of securing the bid to host the Advisory Centre.