The 2nd Mediation Expedition in Ghana, organised with the objective of promoting the growth of the Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) industry in the country, has ended at the Bunso Eco Park in the Eastern region, amidst excitement and quality lessons.
Characterised by mediation lectures, ADR orientation, moot mediation sessions, nature tour, hiking ecological adventure, and canopy walk, the two-day event, organised by ADR Daily, offered a host of ADR lessons for the participants in learning to resolve disputes.
While the event gave ADR trainees the opportunity to shape their mediation skills, it offered other professionals who are new to ADR, a practical orientation to ADR mechanisms and their benefits in seeking amicable settlement of differences.
As disputes present a dangling situation, which has to be stabilized, the participants, on the swinging 230-metre canopy walk, learnt and appreciated the skills a mediator needs to possess to be able to maintain a balance as an impartial third party, and composure to keep the mediation process going.
Through the various role plays acted out by trainees of the Gamey & Gamey ADR Institute, the participants observed how an impartial mediator uses neutral language with positive assumptions through appreciative inquiry to encourage parties to open up and engage in conversations that lead to resolution of their differences.
The participants, which included human resource directors and customer service managers, union leaders, legal, media and medical practitioners, mediators, arbitrators, school administrators, religious and traditional leaders, and business managers among others, were from Consolidated Bank Ghana, GCB Bank Ltd, Unilever Ghana, HPW Fresh & Fry, Golden Exotics, New Times Corporation, Devtraco, SIC, Aker Energy Ghana, J. L. Danquah Herbal Medical Clinic, Action Chapel, Bethany Methodist Co-operative Credit Union, YWCA, Susan Owusu Memorial Methodist School, Multisoft Solutions Ltd, Ghana Armed Forces, Westec Security Systems Ghana, Environmental Protection Agency, Lands Commission, Judicial Service, Ministry of Justice, Telecommunication and IT Professionals Union, Industrial and Commercial Workers Union, and the Omanda Royal Palace.
