Chief Justice Mr. Justice Anim Yeboah
The CHIEF JUSTICE Mr. Justice Anim Yeboah has declared Monday, November 9 to Friday, November 13, 2020 as the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Week for the Legal Year Term.
Themed: “Making Our Courts User Friendly Through The Use of ADR”, the activities of the week will focus on reducing a backlog of cases at the 130 participating courts in the country.
A press release sighted by DAILY GUIDE, stated that: “One hundred and thirty courts, comprising thirty-three circuit courts and ninety-eight district courts shall participate by devoting the whole week for settlement of court cases with ADR across the country.”
A press conference to be held at the District Court 1 in Tarkwa in the Western Region will be held to mark the official opening of the ADR Week and will be addressed by Her Ladyship Justice Irene Charity Larbi, a Justice of the Court of Appeal and also in charge of ADR.
“The Bar, disputants, the media and the public are therefore encouraged to participate fully and cooperate with the Judicial Service to make this Legal Year Term’s ADR Week a success,” the statement added.
Background
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has been adopted by the Judicial Service of Ghana as part of its adjudication process dubbed, ‘Court Connected ADR’ with the aim of ensuring that access to justice in Ghana is made easier, cheaper, non-adversarial, expeditious and flexible to all, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
The Chief Justice in a policy directive on the Court Connected ADR programme instituted the ADR Week in every Legal Year Term to give parties the opportunity to settle their cases through mediation and run programmes and activities to create awareness on the availability of ADR as a compliment to the adjudication process in the courts.
By Nii Adjei Mensahfio