131 Courts observe Alternative Dispute Resolution week
Monday, July 8 to Friday, July12, 2019 has been declared as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Week for this Legal Year Term.
ADR has been adopted by the Judicial Service of Ghana as part of its adjudication process dubbed “Court-Connected ADR”.
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The aim of this programme is to ensure that access to justice in Ghana is made easier, cheaper, non-adversarial, expeditious and flexible to all, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
Pursuant to this, Her Ladyship the Lady Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, in a policy directive on the Court-Connected ADR Programme, has instituted an ADR Week in every Legal Year Term, firstly to give parties the opportunity to settle their cases through mediation and secondly to run programmes and activities to create awareness of the availability of ADR as a complement to the adjudication process in the courts.
Theme
According to a statement signed by Ms Joyce Adjoa Namoale, the theme for the Week is: “Application of ADR by the Courts: A Shared Responsibility for Quality Justice”.
One hundred and thirty-one courts, comprising 32 Circuit Courts and 99 District Courts shall participate by devoting the whole week for settlement of court cases with ADR across the country.
The official opening of the week would be marked by a press conference at the District Court ‘4’, Asokwa-Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region at 9.00a.m. prompt.
Her Ladyship Justice Irene Charity Larbi, Justice of the Court of Appeal, and Judge-In-Charge of ADR will address the press.
She will be assisted by Mr Alex Nartey, National ADR Coordinator.
Focus
The focus of the week is to reduce the backlog of cases at the 131 participating Courts by 20 per cent.
The general public, the Bar, the media and disputants are, therefore, encouraged to participate fully and cooperate with the Judicial Service to make this Legal Year Term’s ADR Week a success.