ADR can resolve Dagbon, Bawku, Ga chieftaincy conflicts - Gamey

Accra, July 16, GNA - Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) still remains the best mechanism to clear Ghana's courts of choked numerous old cases, Mr Austin Gamey, Chief Executive Office of the Gamey & Gamey Academy of Mediation has said.

He said the ongoing Dagbon, Bawku, Ga Chieftaincy, Peki-Tsito and many other chieftaincy and land cases dotted in the country, have all visited the courts at the highest levels, but remain unresolved.

In answer he said: 93=85these are matters that can be resolved by the parties through the application of mediation or ADR for that matter".

Mr Gamey was speaking to induct 55 new entrants into the Academy to undertake Professional Master of ADR and a graduation ceremony for the 12th batch of students also of the Academy at the Centre for Conflict Resolution at Legon in Accra on Saturday.

He said the perception that the courts and layers were the key source of finding solution to litigation problems should be given a second thought.

Litigation, he said, had its place, and urged the judiciary to step-up the roles they currently were playing in helping litigants to have access to ADR services, especially in civil and minor criminal matters.

Mr Gamey said the Academy hoped to establish a Gamey and Gamey International Institute of ADR and Industrial Leadership at Tema in Accra to provide high quality professional training and development in ADR and industrial leadership for Ghanaians and other African countries.

He said Gamey and Gamey Academy represents two of the best ADR institutes in the world on the continent of Africa: The Pulse Institute based in Canada and Mediation Training Institute in Kansas City, USA.

In collaboration with the Pulse Institute, Africa, the Gamey and Gamey Academy, he said would soon commence the running of similar ADR and Industrial Leadership programme in Nairobi, Kenya.

Stressing further the important of ADR, Ghana's Information Minister, Mr John Tia Akologo, said regrettably the traditional courts that were supposed to support dispute resolutions through such means had not been effective in that regard.

He said it was not for nothing that President Mills Government recognized the need to pass the ADR Act (Act 798) in 2010 and noted that efforts needed to be stepped up to promote the practice of ADR.

"In our daily life, in everything we do, there will always be conflict", he said and indicated that this underscored the importance of ADR practice.

Allowing for negotiation and not just say that I know it all, allow for speedy hearing and resolution of cases," Mr Akologo said.

The project works of the 40 graduates of the Academy made up of chiefs, politicians, lawyers, human resource managers, land administrators and other disciplines would form part of exhibition in a special conference being organized by PULSE Institute in Vancuover, Canada from August 15 to 20 this year.