Uncertified ADR practitioners threaten justice system-ADR Centre warns

The National Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre has raised concern over what it describes as the growing number of unqualified people presenting themselves as ADR practitioners in Ghana.

Its Executive Secretary, Dr Francis Kofi Korankye-Sakyi, said the trend poses a serious risk to public confidence in the justice system.

He was speaking at the 13th Annual Conference of the Ghana National Association of ADR Practitioners.

Dr Korankye-Sakyi said ADR practice must be guided by proper training, certification and ethics.

He warned that people who operate without those standards weaken the credibility of a system that has taken years to build.

“Individuals who hold themselves out as ADR practitioners without requisite training, certification, and ethical grounding undermine public confidence and weaken the very system we have all worked hard to build,” he said.

One area of concern, he noted, is the growing use of radio and television platforms for live “dispute resolution” programmes.

According to him, some media houses have been hosting sessions in which personal and social disputes are discussed and settled on air without regard to professional ADR rules.

He said the Centre had recently issued cautionary notices to some media organisations over such practices.

Dr Korankye-Sakyi described the trend as “charlatanism” and said it must be checked before it damages the integrity of ADR in the country.

He also disclosed that the Centre has received backing from the Judiciary in its efforts to regulate the sector.

According to him, the Chief Justice has assured the Centre of cooperation in removing unqualified practitioners from the system.

“When I met the Judicial Service, they gave the assurance to collaborate and cooperate with us. Chief Justice assured us to weed out these charlatans in the system,” he said.

Dr Korankye-Sakyi said the Centre was prepared to take the necessary regulatory steps to protect ADR practice.

However, he stressed that the responsibility should not be left to the regulator alone.

He urged professional bodies, including the Ghana National Association of ADR Practitioners, to remain vigilant and defend ethical standards within the profession.

“The Center will not hesitate to take appropriate steps to sanitize the practice, but this is not a task of the regulator alone,” he said.

He called on certified practitioners to protect the credibility of ADR and help preserve its role as a trusted part of Ghana’s justice delivery system.