ADR key to Ghana’s peace – Judge

Mrs Justice Georgina Mensah-Datsa, a High Court Judge at the Sekondi Commercial Court, on Friday said court-connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (CCADR) was one sure way to ensure peace and stability in the country.

She was speaking at a regional level opening forum as part of activities marking this year’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Week at Sekondi.

The week was under the theme: “Court Connected ADR: A Tool for Peace and Stability”.

Mrs. Justice Mensah-Datsa said the benefits of CCADR showed that it was a tool for peace and due to its benefits, ADR had been made mandatory in commercial courts.

She said in all other courts, CCADR was voluntary and in the Judiciary Service of the country the emphasis was on mediation.

Mrs. Justice Mensah-Datsa said the Judiciary was committed to deal with disputes expeditiously, hence the introduction of the CCADR.

She said one benefit of the CCADR was that it sought to maintain relationships of the parties unlike the traditional trial system, which had the potential to break relationships and create further conflict due to its adversarial nature.

She said CCADR empowered the parties and made justice accessible to all and it was, therefore, important to sell the concept to those in the rural areas who might not have easy access to justice.

Mrs Justice Mensah-Datsa said comparatively, ADR was cheaper than adjudication and should be made more accessible to the poor and vulnerable in the society.

Mr. Justice Kofi Akrowiah, a High Court Judge at the Sekondi Commercial Court, who presided, said the programme was to sensitize the staff of the Judiciary Service, Judges and Journalists to assist to publicise CCADR.

Source: GNA