ADR Week begins Monday, March 12 nationwide

The Ghana Judicial Service has announced that the 2018 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Week will take place nationwide from Monday, 12th- 16th March. Alternative Dispute Resolution is the procedure for settling disputes without litigation, such as arbitration, mediation, or negotiation. ADR has been adopted by the Judicial Service of Ghana as part of its adjudication process. Accordingly, a statement from the Judicial Service indicates that the ADR week dubbed ‘Court-Connected ADR’ is aimed at ensuring that “access to justice in Ghana is made easier, cheaper, non-adversarial, expeditious and flexible to all, particularly the poor and vulnerable”. The statement further states that as a matter of policy directive, the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo  has instituted the ADR week to first “give parties the opportunity to settle their cases through mediation. “And secondly to run programmes and activities to create awareness on the availability of ADR as a compliment to the adjudication process in the Courts”. Eighty-Seven Courts, including 20 Circuit Courts and 65 District Courts shall participate by devoting the whole week for settlement of Court Cases with ADR across the country and the opening of the week shall be marked by a press conference at Sunyani  in the Brong Ahafo region. Source: 3news.com | Ghana]]>