As part of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) week activities which is annually held in the month of November, a durbar came off on Friday, 10th November at the GNAT hall in Takoradi.
The objective of the ADR week programme is to enlighten and sensitize the general public and stakeholders about the relevance of ADR and how court users can resolve issues very quickly with the help of ADR services.
Speaking at the program, Her Ladyship Justice Angelina Mensah-Homiah who graced the occasion as the chairperson said that ADR started in 2001 when there was an observed high rate of minor cases which were always adjourned at the court which was frustrating to the court users as well as the third arm of government, the judiciary, so the judiciary thought of it twice to implement a law that will resolve minor issues with no delays and that is how the ADR came about.
She said, “Over 32,000 cases as been resolved with the help of the ADR and this is mostly done at the traditional courts”
She also stated that ADR brings privacy between the disputants. In an instance, where the disputants solve the dispute with the help of a judge also preserve the relationship which helps societal growth.
“ADR is just for minor cases, not felony cases. When you use ADR to solve issues, it curtails financial and emotional stress as compared to the normal court processes one goes through when dealing with cases” she further explained.
The court gives an order in reference to the ADR and picks a mediator to help resolve the case when the disputants agree to settle the case at home, this is so important that we go to schools, churches, markets and other public places to educate the public of the relevance of the ADR.
In furtherance of this, the Honourable Lady Chief Justice has directed that a day’s public durbar be incorporated into the activities of this ADR week to intensify the general public enlightenment on ADR before its official launch on Monday.
