Judicial Service and ADR Centre team up to widen out-of-court justice

Ghana’s justice system is set for a deeper push into alternative dispute resolution after the ADR Centre and the Judicial Service agreed to work together to expand and improve its use across the country.

The new partnership is expected to focus on three main areas: regulation, training and the delivery of stronger ADR services, as both institutions look to make dispute settlement quicker, more accessible and more efficient.

The understanding was reached in Accra during a meeting between the Executive Secretary of the ADR Centre, Dr Francis Kofi Korankye-Sakyi, and the leadership of the Judicial Service.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief Justice, Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo described the collaboration as an important step that builds on the progress already made through the Court-Connected ADR programme.

He said the judiciary has seen the value of ADR over the years, particularly in easing pressure on the courts, reducing backlogs and helping parties settle disputes more amicably.

For the ADR Centre, the partnership fits into a broader effort to strengthen standards in the sector.

Dr Korankye-Sakyi said the Centre is working to fully activate its regulatory role and sees cooperation with the Judicial Service as key to embedding ADR more firmly within the justice system. He disclosed that plans are underway to introduce a national practice manual to guide procedures, while a Legislative Instrument is also being prepared to support the Centre’s mandate.

The meeting also highlighted the role of lawyers in shaping the success of ADR. Austin Gamey, who joined the delegation, said wider acceptance of mediation and arbitration would depend heavily on how the legal profession engages with the process.

There were also calls for ADR to play a stronger compulsory role in civil justice.

Dr Korankye-Sakyi argued for broader use of mandatory ADR in civil cases, pointing to countries such as Canada, The Gambia and South Africa, where parties are often required to attempt settlement before moving fully into litigation.

Justice Angelina Mensah-Homiah, who oversees the Court-Connected ADR programme, said the growing size of the sector makes stronger coordination necessary. She called for the creation of a national database of accredited practitioners so the public can more easily identify qualified mediators and arbitrators.

She also disclosed that approval has been granted for the recruitment of more court mediators, with the expectation that the ADR Centre’s database will help identify suitable professionals.

Justice Mensah-Homiah further pointed to rules that already allow judges to mediate cases where parties consent, and said more training would help equip judges for that role.

She also welcomed the ADR Centre’s recent warning against media platforms conducting unregulated dispute settlement shows, describing the trend as a serious concern for the judiciary.

Other participants stressed that sustained collaboration and training would be essential if ADR is to take a larger place in Ghana’s justice system, as more judges and magistrates begin to treat it as a first resort rather than a fallback.