By Jones Anlimah
The Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has underscored the importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in promoting timely, affordable, and accessible justice delivery across the country. Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie was speaking at the official launch of the 2025 ADR Week in Ho, themed “Adoption of Innovation and Technology to Enhance Access to Justice Delivery through ADR.”
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie noted that the ADR framework has become a vital complement to the traditional court system, reducing case backlogs and restoring public confidence in the judiciary.
“What people fail to realise,” he said, “is that Ghanaians are litigious, everything, people want to go to court. But litigation has become so complex, expensive, and slow that we must embrace ADR as a faster and more humane alternative.”
The Chief Justice observed that despite the establishment of additional courts in areas such as Adenta and Amasaman to reduce pressure, “the caseload continues to rise,” making ADR even more essential. He called on lawyers and traditional leaders to champion mediation and arbitration in their communities.
“ADR will not take your money away,” he encouraged lawyers, “but rather enhance your reputation. If clients see that you helped them settle their case early, they will trust you even more.”
He added that the integration of technology including digital transcription, virtual hearings, and electronic documentation was key to modernising the judiciary, making justice “faster, transparent, and more inclusive.”
Her Ladyship Justice Angelina Mensah-Homiah, Judge in charge of the ADR Programme, reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to expanding ADR across the country. She revealed that in the past 20 years, over 37,000 cases have been settled through ADR, reducing pressure on the courts.
“If ADR centres are operationalised across the country, anyone could simply walk in and request a mediator or arbitrator to resolve disputes without going to court,” she said. “ADR is indeed the way to go.”
Justice Mensah-Homiah also announced that more than 400 mediators were recruited and are being trained for deployment nationwide to handle both simple and complex cases. She urged lawyers to support mediation efforts and highlighted the need to operationalise the ADR Centres established under Section 114 of the ADR Act, 2010 (Act 798).
“Together with all stakeholders,” she pledged, “we will continue to work hard. Court-connected ADR and ADR in general is the way to go and so choose ADR over litigation any day, any time.”
In his remarks, the Volta Regional Minister, Hon. James Gunu, applauded the Chief Justice for choosing Ho, “the Oxygen City,” to launch the 2025 ADR Week. “My Lord Chief Justice, you need a lot of oxygen to reset the judicial system,” he said humorously, adding that the theme for the week was both timely and relevant to Ghana’s quest for innovation in governance.
Mr. Gunu commended the judiciary for its efforts to integrate digital tools into justice delivery. “Virtual hearings, online mediation, and AI-powered case management systems are helping to remove traditional barriers and make justice more accessible,” he said. “Innovation offers us a tool to expand access, increase efficiency, and remove the traditional barriers that have hindered many from seeking timely justice.”
He also stressed the importance of cybersecurity and digital awareness, calling for continuous training for ADR practitioners and public education on the benefits of technology in justice administration.
The 2025 ADR Week, which is being observed nationwide, seeks to raise awareness about the role of mediation and arbitration in decongesting the courts while leveraging technology to make justice more inclusive and accessible.
