The Labour Relations Officer at Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), Bright Tiize Sconi has urged corporate bodies in the country to adopt mediation as one of the best Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in resolving workplace disputes.
According to him, among the three main ADR mechanisms, mediation is by far the best ADR tool to use in ensuring amicable resolution of disputes at the workplace.
Speaking to ADR Daily in an interview at Gbledi-Gbogame in the Volta Region, after trekking Afadjato, the highest mountain in Ghana, as part of the maiden mediation expedition organized by ADR Daily in partnership with Gamey and Gamey Group.
Mr. Sconi, who was part of CBG’s team on the expedition, noted that mediation is the most viable way of promoting productive and harmonious relationship among workers, as well as between workers and management in corporate organizations.
“Mediation is the way. It provides win-win situation. And no corporate organization will like to be in court, especially taking into consideration its reputation and the cost involved. And once employers and employees or union and employers adopt mediation in resolving disputes, its protects relationships and resolves disputes in a less expensive and timely manner,” he stated.
Recommending the engagement of professional mediators by employers in their organizations, the CBG Labour Relation Officer said, having an internal mediator within an organization enhances organisational productivity and growth, by helping to prevent or effectively resolve disputes in a way to enhances relationships and protects the interests of both workers and the organisation.
“I will subscribe that corporate bodies, in addition to promoting industrial relationship, should have a professional mediator to handle disputes that emerge in the organisation,” he added.
Mr. Sconi further expressed his outfit’s appreciation to ADR Daily and Gamey and Gamey Group for organizing such an “educative trip” to the Afadja mountain, with the aim of assisting corporate institutions to appreciate the usefulness of mediation in managing and resolving conflicts.
The Afadjato Mediation Expedition, which was held on the theme, “Enhancing mediation skills for socio-economic development” had in attendance participants drawn from various professional fields.
Acclaimed ADR expert and Chief Executive Officer of Gamey and Gamey Group, Austin A. Gamey, who led expedition, took participants through some mediation lessons at the summit of the mountain standing at 885 metres high.
Benjamin Nana Appiah/ www.adrdaily.com
