Traders at the Racecourse Market in Kumasi have applauded the introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism into Ghana’s justice delivery system but want more public education on the initiative.
They believe ADR presents a unique opportunity for court users to amicably resolve disputes devoid of litigation, but many of their people are not aware of the system.
Some of the traders, who spoke to the media after an engagement with various queens in the market on the benefits of using ADR for settling disputes, expressed their desire to take advantage of the mechanism in seeking redress.
Madam Beatrice Mpianin, the Deputy Queen at the Racecourse Market, said it was refreshing to know that there was other means of settling cases without litigation and thanked the team for the education.
“I have been in court for three years and the case was just recently concluded.
If I knew about the ADR, I probably wouldn’t have spent years in court,” she stated.
She, therefore, recommended ADR to her fellow women to save them legal fees and precious time that could be invested in their businesses.
She entreated the Judicial Service to extend the education on ADR to other markets in the metropolis for others to benefit from such an important message.
As part of pre-activities ahead of the ADR Week scheduled for March 17-21, a team of officials from the ADR unit of the Judicial Service visited the market to sensitise the women on ADR as an option for court users.
Led by Justice Mrs. Angelina Mensah-Homiah, a Judge of the Court of Appeal who also has oversight responsibility for ADR, the team took time to explain the advantages of settling disputes through ADR.
Justice Mensah-Homiah said disputes were bound to arise in any human endeavour hence it was important to engage potential users of the court on options available for resolving cases in the court.
She said ADR was introduced to ensure eligible cases are adjudicated expeditiously to reduce the pressure on judges.
According to her, mediators have been trained to facilitate the process in a friendly environment, allowing the two parties to dialogue for amicable settlement.
She also disclosed that even cases already before the court could be withdrawn for settlement through ADR.
Justice Mrs. Dorinda Smith Arthur, a High Court Judge who was part of the team, said ADR ensured dialogue between the two parties with the mediator only serving as a referee, hence the outcomes were mostly mutual.
She reminded them that since the outcomes of ADR were voluntary, no party could appeal after the consent judgment had been endorsed by the judge.
Cases such as defilement, robbery, rape, treason, high treason among others are however not part of cases that could be settled through ADR, she told the women.