38,447 Cases resolved through ADR

Since the introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in 2005, over 30,000 cases have been settled outside the court, Justice Angelina Mensah-Homiah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, with oversight responsibility of ADR, has said.

"A total of 38,447 cases, out of 88,451, representing 43 per cent, have successfully been resolved", she added.

Justice Mensah-Homiah was speaking at a media briefing ahead of an engagement with Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative Farmers and Marketing Union Limited in Kumasi last Monday.

Present was Justice Hannah Taylor, a Supervising High Court Judge in Ashanti Region.

ADR Week celebration

The event formed part of activities ahead of this year's ADR Week celebrations scheduled from March 17 - 21 , 2025, in Kumasi on the theme: "Building the pillars of justice through commercial justice ADR".

Dubbed "Pre-ADR Week", it seeks to sensitise potential users of court processes in settling disputes to embrace ADR as an option for expeditious resolution of cases.

The activities which would focus on commercial cases this year would seek to draw the attention of businesses to the advantages of utilising ADR for resolution of disputes.

Benefits of ADR

Justice Mensah-Homiah said resorting to ADR Centres as a first option before considering court litigation was an appropriate measure for parties to gain expeditious, confidential, inexpensive and amicable settlements, which were recognised by the courts.

"In fact, resolving cases through this means rather than litigation brings finality to cases faster than going through the traditional processes in courts which are burdened with so many cases.

"Having commercial cases in court for years hurts businesses and at the end of the day it impacts negatively on economic stability," she said.