The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice says it is keen on promoting the increased adoption of Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms for the settlement of disputes across the country.
In that regard, the Ministry is committed to undertaking the necessary interventions to enhance the use of ADR in addressing cases.
Ms. Diana Asonaba Dapaah, a Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, gave the commitment when Mr. Austin Gamey, Chief Executive Officer of the Gamey and Gamey Group, a leading labour relations management and ADR consultancy firm, led a delegation from the Group to pay a courtesy call on her at the Ministry today.
The objective of the visit was to enable them to deliberate on the progress of the ADR profession and how to address the challenges hindering its mass adoption.
The Deputy Minister indicated that in view of the acclaimed benefits of ADR mechanisms, particularly negotiation, mediation, and arbitration, it is critical for the nation to explore ADR options.
As part of the commitment of the Attorney-General’s Department in using ADR, she explained that ADR has been prioritized in the protocols for the management of cases.
She said civil cases that get to the Department, including cases of intent to sue the government, are first subjected to ADR options for settlement, adding that many of the cases are amicably settled.
She, however, noted the need for more training for State Attorneys to enhance their skills in ADR practice, and therefore, welcomed the support of the Gamey and Gamey Group in that regard.
For his part, Mr. Gamey lauded the support of the Ministry for the growth of the ADR industry and believed that more could be achieved through stakeholder collaboration.
He expressed the readiness of his organization to assist in facilitating advanced ADR training for the State Attorneys, and also assured the Ministry of the necessary support for related interventions.
Touching on the ADR Act, 2010 (Act 798), Mr. Gamey called for a Legislative Instrument to fully operationalize the Act.
He also called for the establishment of the National ADR Centre, as stipulated in the Act, to enhance the practice and use of ADR mechanisms by Ghanaians.
“ADR in Ghana has made good progress, but it is important that it is moved forward to the level it deserves,” he stressed.
