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The Ghana Association of Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioners (GNAAP) has urged government to make substantial investment in court infrastructure, to provide conference room facilities and offices for mediation sessions.
According to the association, this would help meet the professional requirement of confidentiality in conflict management.
A statement signed and issued by the President of GNAAP, Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, to mark the ADR week, copied The Ghanaian Times, over the weekend, noted that “confidentiality is an important ethical requirement in conflict management, and it smacks of unprofessionalism when mediators are compelled to hold mediation sessions in places which do not create the right atmosphere for confidentiality to reflect the dignity and importance of ADR practice”.
It also urged government to increase the allowances of ADR professionals, volunteering to undertake court- connected ADR practice to promote peace building in the country.
“We commend the government of Ghana and the Judicial Service of Ghana for instituting the ADR Week, which is devoted to raising national awareness on the importance of ADR by educating the public to know and use the Court-Connected ADR mechanisms, to resolve conflicts through consent agreements between parties in conflict who had resorted to court litigation,” the statement said.
The ADR week celebration, which begun yesterday, will end on March 21 on the theme, “Building the pillars of justice through commercial justice ADR.”
Touching on the theme, Mr Owusu-Koranteng said it reflected the focus of ADR direction to build a strong foundation for ADR practice for efficient and speedy resolution of conflicts in the business sector.
“We commend the Chief Justice and the Judicial Service for selecting a theme that would make ADR part of the agenda of creating a conducive atmosphere for businesses to operate in an environment of peace to promote local businesses and attract foreign investments,” he stated.
Mr Owusu-Koranteng underscored that litigation through court system had not achieved the objectives of peace building and restoration of relationships.
“Although court system is still relevant in cases that require adjudication for resolution of conflicts, however, due to cost and time-consuming nature of the court system, it had choked the courts with cases and that has become a disincentive for the use of the courts to resolve conflicts.”
Mr Owusu-Koranteng said ADR has become a preferred means of conflict resolution in business circles, family issues, conflicts relating to land among others.
He noted that the increasing patronage of ADR by many people of diverse professional and social backgrounds, gave credence to the positive influence of ADR in addressing conflicts and contributing to peace building in the country.
The association commended the Chief Justice, Judges, staff of Judicial Service, and Court-Connected Mediators for working together to ensure that ADR became the preferred choice of parties in conflict.
BY TIMES REPORTER
