Paralegals, ADR practitioners urged to help expand access to justice
Addressing 138 graduates of the Institute of Paralegal Training and Leadership Studies (IPLS) at a ceremony in Accra, he said Ghana’s ambition to build a more inclusive justice system hinges on a robust pipeline of well-trained ADR experts
Apostle Professor Joseph Ignatius Teye Buertey, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Science, and Computing at Pentecost University, has called on Ghana’s emerging cadre of paralegals and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practitioners to anchor their work in ethics, service, and continuous professional development.
Addressing 138 graduates of the Institute of Paralegal Training and Leadership Studies (IPLS) at a ceremony in Accra, he said Ghana’s ambition to build a more inclusive justice system hinges on a robust pipeline of well-trained ADR experts who can support communities outside the formal court structure.
The event was held on the theme “Justice Made Accessible: The Power of Skilled ADR and Paralegal Practitioners.”
Prof. Buertey underscored ADR’s growing relevance, describing it as one of the most consequential legal reforms of the last half-century. He noted that mediation and arbitration have successfully resolved disputes—especially in construction and commercial sectors—that could have remained in litigation for decades.
“Some construction cases have lasted 30 years in court, yet through mediation they were resolved in a fraction of the time,” he said. “ADR is no longer an optional pathway but a vital mechanism for peacebuilding and economic progress.”
He stressed that access to justice remains a major national challenge, particularly for rural communities, low-income households, and individuals unable to bear the complexity or cost of court procedures. Paralegals, he said, often serve as “the first responders” in such communities, providing the closest and most practical support to citizens seeking legal help.
The dean urged the graduates to uphold integrity, resist unethical shortcuts, and commit to continuous learning. Invoking Gandhi’s admonition to “learn as if you were to live forever,” he reminded them that fairness must remain the center of their professional identity.
Quoting Scripture, he added, “Seek justice, correct oppression… bring justice to those far from it. Ghana and the world are waiting for you.”
Founder of IPLS, Alex Martey, said the newly trained practitioners will play a strategic role in reducing congestion in Ghana’s courts. He emphasized that rising awareness of legal rights has increased the volume of disputes nationwide—many of which can be managed effectively through ADR.
“The courts are overwhelmed. Unless ADR becomes the primary option for dispute settlement, we cannot achieve an efficient justice system,” he said. He noted that nearly 200 ADR professionals trained this year alone will complement the country’s capacity to deliver community-level justice.
IPLS Director Theresa Efua Brown said the graduates had undergone intensive training in conflict resolution, family law, labor law, and related disciplines. She described their work as a calling, not merely an academic certification.
“We expect them to administer everything they have learned—addressing conflicts wherever they find themselves,” she said.
The graduates completed programmes such as:
Certificate in Foundation Conflict Resolution
Master of Alternative Dispute Resolution
Professional Executive Master in Industrial and Labour Law
Professional Executive Master in Family Law and Conflict Resolution
Speakers at the ceremony closed with a challenge to the graduates to champion ethical leadership, expand access to justice, and become dependable ambassadors of ADR within their communities.
