‘Resort to use of Alternative Dispute Resolution’
The Ghana Association of Certified Mediators and Arbitrators (GHACMA) has advised Ghanaians to resort to the use of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) to resolve their differences rather than the courts.
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According to the President of GHACMA, Mr Kofi Quarshigah, although ADR was informal, inexpensive, and less time-consuming, people stil went to court over trivial issues which could easily be resolved by arbitrators and mediators.
ADR is the process where both parties involved in a conflict or disagreement resort to the use of mediation or arbitration to settle their dispute outside the courtroom.
Mr Quarshigah was speaking at a mediation and arbitration seminar in Accra on the theme, "The new face of GHACMA " where participants were sensitised to the benefits of ADR.
He indicated that taking people to court only deepened the hurt and bad blood between parties involved in a conflict but ADR healed relationships amongst disputing individuals and parties after settlements.
New generation
In a speech read on behalf of the Attorney General, Mrs Marrieta Brew Appiah-Oppong, she urged the GHACMA to encourage people including lawyers, to show more interest in mediation and arbitration practice to complement the operations of the regular court system.
That she said, would lead to faster and efficient resolution of cases.
Mrs Appiah-Oppong also observed that the GHACMA could raise a new generation of mediators and arbitrators by creating mediation clubs in senior high and tertiary institutions in the country.
"You should be committed to raising a younger and more active generation to take up the practice of this time-tested method of resolution," she stated.
Logo and peace model
A new logo and peace symbol which was designed by a Senior Assistant Professor of the Ashesi University College, Dr Enyonam Kudonoo, was launched to reveal the new face of the GHACMA.
The logo is made up of two cocks with interlocking beaks in a blue-coloured background.
Dr Kudonoo explained that the cocks represented individuals, families or parties involved in conflict but they were mindful not to hurt each other in the eyes, a delicate part of the body.
It indicate that, even though families or individuals may disagree, they should always be mindful not to hurt each other in the process.