Chief Justice urges increasing use of ADR

The Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, has called for increasing use of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) by litigants to settle conflicts to save time and money.

She said the other high point was that this was less acrimonious because unlike the open court, it involved mediation, arbitration and negotiation.

“There is no winner takes all” and it could help the parties to stay together in harmony, without bitter feelings about the outcome of the settlement.

The Chief Justice said this in an address read on her behalf at the inauguration of a GH¢250,000 Magistrate's Court at Akumadan in the Offinso North District in the Ashanti Region.

She said more mediators had been trained for the ADR to handle cases outside the open court.

“This, however, does not prevent anybody from going to court if they so wish to secure justice,” she said.

The district assembly financed the construction of the building from its share of the District Development Fund (DDF).

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Sarpong, said there was the need for people to uphold the law and conduct themselves well to bring down court cases.

“They should stay away from criminal activities to avoid coming into confrontation with the law,” he said.

Mr Sarpong urged the assembly to work hard to speed up the progress of the area and invited the chiefs and people to support the assembly to carry through its development agenda.

Nana Wiafe Akenten III, Omanhene of Offinso, said litigation retarded progress and tended to create enmity and, therefore, advised the people not to be dragged into needless conflicts.

They should find peaceful ways to deal with minor disputes, especially over land, to preserve the peace.

He commended the assembly for the project and said the structure must be properly kept.

The District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Samuel Kwadwo Appiah-Kubi, said the establishment of the court would bring relief to the people and end the situation where they had to travel to Offinso and Kumasi to seek justice.