ADR to boost justice

Accra, March 20, GNA - When the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is implemented, it would bring justice to the doorsteps of the people, Mrs Sandra Cofie, Director of Judicial Reform, Project Development and Implementation Unit, said on Tuesday.

Mrs Cofie, who was interacting with the journalists during a pilot sitting of the ADR at the Magistrate's Court at the Community Centre in Accra, said the ADR week had been set aside by the Chief Justice to give parties involved in civil cases pending in court, an opportunity to have their cases settled through mediation.

She said about four years ago the Judiciary embarked upon a wide range of reforms, including the ADR, to offer parties the opportunity to resolve their disputes by methods such as negotiation, mediation and arbitration, other than courtroom trial.

Commenting on the benefits of the ADR, she pointed out that it saved time and cost, proceedings were private and parties had the opportunity to craft their own solutions while confidentiality was assured.

The Director said the programme was also to educate the public on ADR mechanisms available to them in courts. She said at the moment, the programme was being run in the Ga District, Tema and Accra Metropolis, adding if it proved successful it would be extended to other parts of the country.

Mrs Cofie stated that what was important was that after the sitting, what was agreed upon by the parties would be signed and entered in court books by the Registrar as a true reflection of proceedings, like court sittings.

She noted that the ADR had a unique benefit for both the Judiciary and aggrieved parties because the process facilitated settlements of backlogs.

Mrs Cofie said there were 22 dockets referred to the Community Centre, which were expected to be cleared by the end of the weeklong programme.

The GNA observed that the sitting at the Community Centre was expected to try seven cases on Monday, but three parties were absent. The four cases tried included one criminal case 96 a man who assaulted his wife.

The other three cases were civil cases including debts and land issues. The ADR tries mostly civil and minor criminal cases, except murder and robbery.

The GNA also learned that the ADR Mediators were trained civil personnel, lawyers and retired or serving judges who attended a 40-hour training course. They receive 100,000 cedis a sitting.

Mr Senyo M. Adjabeng, National ADR Co-ordinator, said trained mediators would be assigned to each court to assist in the programme. He said individuals in the civil case pending in the courts were encouraged to contact the Registrars in their respective courts to arrange for the rescheduling of their cases for ADR. Mr Adjabeng urged the public to visit the court to learn more about ADR in the judicial system. 20 March 07