5th Mediation Expedition for ADR professionals ends at Aburi

The 5th Mediation Expedition, aimed at promoting professional mediation practice, has ended at the Aburi Gardens in the Eastern Region, with a call on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practitioners to support in resolving the increasing disputes that have engulfed the Ghanaian society.

Hosted by the Gamey and Gamey ADR Institute and ADR Daily, the annual mediation camping brought together professionals from diverse fields for the immersive three-day skills development programme, which ended last Saturday.

Held as part of the institute’s Professional Executive Master of ADR (PEM.ADR) training, the event was designed to refine participants’ skills in ADR through practical simulations, networking opportunities and community engagement activities.

Expedition

The expedition, supported by Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), Golden Exotics, Millennium Insurance, and HPW Fresh & Dry, was held on the theme: “Shaping Sustainable Peaceful Futures Through Quality ADR Practice,” highlighting the relevance of ADR, especially mediation in addressing conflicts across various sectors in Ghana and beyond.

Participants engaged in a series of simulation exercises aimed at enhancing their mediation skills with scenarios designed to reflect real-world challenges in conflict resolution.

The event also included a community outreach segment, which aimed to raise public awareness of ADR’s benefits.

There were also discussions on topical issues including labour dispute management and industrial relations development led by Head of Administration and Human Resources at the National Labour Commission, Dr Bernice Welbeck, who emphasised the importance of ADR in fostering constructive labour relations and reducing workplace conflicts, underscoring ADR’s potential to contribute to a stable industrial environment in Ghana.

“This year’s expedition has been a tremendous success, allowing participants to test their skills in realistic settings while connecting with others in the ADR field,” said Austin Gamey, founder of Gamey and Gamey ADR Institute.

Mediators

Addressing the closing session, Mr Gamey urged mediators to intervene to help resolve some of the raging institutional and community disputes in the country, including the Bawku chieftaincy conflict, which he believes requires mediation.

“Society needs mediators for sustainable peace, and as mediators, we need to add value to our homes, organisations and communities by intervening to prevent the escalation of disputes or helping to resolve conflicts,” he said.

The Deputy CEO of Gamey and Gamey Group, Lizzy-Ann Kwagbedzi, for her part, urged the participants to leverage the new skills acquired to act as change agents in their organisations.

She noted that the fast-growing ADR industry in Ghana required skilled professionals to offer quality ADR services to organisations and individuals, so as to grow and sustain public confidence in the industry.

She gave the assurance that the Gamey and Gamey ADR Institute would continue to play its leading role in supporting the growth of the industry by churning out quality and skilled ADR professionals to effectively facilitate the resolution of disputes.

The Editor of ADR Daily and Event Coordinator, Edmund Mingle, expressed gratitude for the support from the event sponsors, which had advanced the mission of promoting ADR as a sustainable means of conflict resolution in Ghana.

He noted that the expedition provided a unique platform for professionals to sharpen their mediation skills, directly aligning with the sponsors’ shared vision of fostering organisational peace and development.