Seek private ADR services-CJ appeals to disputants

In a renewed push to enhance justice delivery in Ghana, Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo has urged individuals and organizations to consider Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as their first option in settling conflicts before resorting to litigation. 

She emphasized that private ADR centers provide an efficient, confidential, and cost-effective pathway to resolving disputes amicably.

Addressing attendees at the 2025 joint graduation and matriculation ceremony for the Professional Executive Master of ADR (PEM.ADR) program at the Gamey and Gamey ADR Institute in Accra, Justice Torkornoo underscored ADR’s crucial role in fostering investment, peace, and economic growth. 

She noted that mediation settlements reached through ADR are legally binding and recognized by the courts, reinforcing its credibility as an effective dispute resolution mechanism.

ADR as a Solution for Land Disputes and Economic Stability

One area where ADR has proven particularly beneficial, the Chief Justice noted, is land disputes, many of which originate from customary law disagreements. She stressed that if ADR centers can help clarify rightful land ownership among families, clans, and stools, the ripple effects would be profound, positively impacting investment, peace, and economic stability.

Justice Torkornoo reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to promoting ADR as a way to ease the burden on the courts and improve access to justice. She highlighted the growing success of the Judicial Service’s Court-Connected ADR program, which has resolved thousands of cases and currently maintains an average settlement rate of 48% nationwide.

Training ADR Professionals for a Sustainable Future

The ceremony, themed “Crafting Peaceful Solutions: Mastering ADR for a Sustainable Future and Job Creation,” celebrated the graduation of 22 professionals who had completed the intensive 31-week ADR training program, as well as the induction of 45 new participants into the programme.

Commending private ADR institutions for their role in strengthening justice delivery, the Chief Justice praised Gamey and Gamey ADR Centre and other private dispute resolution providers for their commitment to professionalism, efficiency, and confidentiality. She expressed confidence that embracing ADR at community, corporate, and national levels would create a culture of peace and ensure accessible, timely, and amicable justice for all.

To further bolster ADR integration, Justice Torkornoo revealed that the Judicial Training Institute is prepared to collaborate with the Gamey and Gamey ADR Institute to provide specialized training for adjudicators and court-connected mediators, using the PULSE framework.

Calls for Greater ADR Utilization

CEO of the Gamey and Gamey Group, Austin Gamey, urged the Judicial Service to refer at least 60% of all civil cases to ADR, arguing that this would facilitate quicker settlements and reduce court congestion. He assured that the Institute remains committed to producing skilled ADR professionals, having already trained over 650 experts serving in various sectors, including as court mediators.

Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, applauded the Gamey and Gamey ADR Institute for its contributions to conflict resolution in Ghana. He announced plans for the Chief Imam’s office to collaborate with the Institute to provide ADR training for Islamic leaders and Muslim communities.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating class, Madam Alberta Aku Agbemordzi expressed appreciation for the invaluable skills acquired and affirmed their dedication to advancing peaceful conflict resolution in Ghana.

With ADR gaining increasing recognition for its role in justice delivery, stakeholders remain hopeful that its wider adoption will not only ease the strain on the judicial system but also cultivate a more harmonious and prosperous society.