COMPONENTS OF COALITION
The Coalition is made up of the Judicial Service of Ghana, Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, The Legal Aid Board, Ghana Association of Chartered Mediators and Arbitrators, the Ghana Arbitration Centre and the Attorney Generals Department. The Coalition, with the support of UNDP, has undertaken a registration exercise of all qualified and practicing ADR practitioners in the country with the view of publishing a national directory of ADR practitioners soon.
This will enable parties in dispute to locate and contact appropriate ADR practitioners in and around their various localities. The Coalition is also liaising with the Attorney Generals Department to prepare and lay before parliament an ADR Bill, which will be the main Reference Legislation for ADR practice in Ghana.
The Bill, which is at an advanced stage of final drafting, seeks to consolidate all the Laws on ADR into one comprehensive Law.
The ADR Bill however, in the near future will be passed by the Parliament of Ghana to become the main Law that will regulate the practice of ADR in the Country. The process of integrating the ADR concept into the Ghanaian society continues to face some major challenges.
Adequate and intensive ADR advocacy and public sensitization programmes must be undertaken to further establish the practice of ADR in Ghana. Even though some advocacy continues to be done, a lot more is needed to fully achieve the level of acceptance and popularity of the ADR concept of Dispute Resolution. The Future of ADR in Ghana looks very promising. Settlement rates are favorable and acceptable. The process continues to be appreciated by parties who experience it. It is also very suitable to the nature of the people of Ghana.
Above all, it enhances access to justice by persons who are unable to access justice through the established court trial systems. The process is more affordable and flexible and hence easier to undertake in all communities in the country.
