Ghana is hosting a crucial three-day meeting from March 17 to 19, 2025, at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra, bringing together the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group III (WGIII) to discuss reforms to the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system.
The meeting aims to align the Africa Group’s position on critical issues under negotiation, foster collaboration among member states, and build the capacity of African stakeholders in ISDS reforms and legal frameworks.
Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations offices in Vienna, Ambassador Matilda Aku Alomatu Osei-Agyeman, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UNCITRAL Secretariat, the AfCFTA Secretariat, and the Commonwealth Secretariat for their support. She stressed that Ghana would continue advocating for African representation in international investment law and dispute resolution.
Ms. Roslyn Ng’eno, Senior Investment Expert at the AfCFTA Secretariat, emphasized the importance of UNCITRAL WGIII in addressing challenges within the ISDS system, such as transparency, arbitrator independence, and limited African representation. She noted that over the past decade, African nations have spearheaded legal reforms to strengthen their position in the global investment system.
UNCITRAL Secretary Anna Joubin-Bret reflected on the progress made through initiatives like the 2023 UNCITRAL Days in Accra, which contributed to modernizing the international commercial law framework, especially in the context of AfCFTA.
Ambassador Ramses Joseph Cleland, Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered the keynote address on behalf of the Minister. He reiterated Ghana’s commitment to advocating for a fair and transparent ISDS system that aligns with Africa’s economic goals. He also shared Ghana’s aspiration to host the Advisory Centre on International Investment Law in Accra, which would strengthen the continent’s legal infrastructure for handling ISDS cases.
