President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has formally submitted a major legislative proposal to the 55th Legislature, seeking the enactment of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2025, a bill aimed at modernizing and streamlining the country’s approach to resolving conflicts outside the traditional court system. In his communication to lawmakers, President Boakai emphasized that the measure is designed to create a comprehensive legal framework that ensures fair, efficient, and cost-effective resolution of both commercial and non-commercial disputes.
The proposed act seeks to institutionalize recognized forms of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, and negotiation, as part of Liberia’s formal legal processes. The bill incorporates significant provisions from existing Liberian law, particularly Title One of the Civil Procedure Law of the Liberian Code, and aligns the nation’s dispute-resolution system with global standards established by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. Specifically, it draws from the 1985 UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, as amended in 2006, signaling Liberia’s intention to strengthen its legal compatibility with international commercial practices.
A major feature of the proposed law is the establishment of two new institutions. The first is the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Authority, which will oversee, coordinate, and regulate domestic ADR processes, ensuring that quality standards are maintained across the country. The second is an International Commercial Arbitration Center that will manage cross-border commercial disputes in accordance with international best practices and the UNCITRAL model. The President noted that these institutions would help improve the country’s justice delivery system while fostering investor confidence in Liberia’s legal and business environment.
During Thursday’s Senate session, the communication from the President was read aloud, prompting initial procedural discussions. Presiding officers asked members of the Senate for their response to the submission. Senator Moy took the floor and requested that the proposed act be placed on the next legislative agenda, stating that this approach was consistent with established procedure. He pledged his readiness to vote once the matter returns for formal deliberation.
The motion was affirmed, allowing the bill to advance to subsequent stages of legislative review. President Boakai, in closing his communication, urged lawmakers to act swiftly in their consideration of the bill, underscoring its importance to Liberia’s legal modernization efforts. The Legislature is now expected to refer the document to the relevant committees for scrutiny before it returns to plenary for debate. If enacted, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2025 is poised to significantly reshape the nation’s justice system by providing faster and more accessible channels for resolving disputes, reducing pressures on the courts, and promoting an environment conducive to domestic and international investment.
Author: Zac T. Sherman
