The Judicial Service has approved the recruitment of professional mediators nationwide to expand Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services and ensure that more disputes are resolved quickly and amicably.

The Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, who announced this, said the recruitment formed part of efforts to strengthen ADR as an effective tool for improving access to justice and also reducing pressure on the formal court system.

He was speaking at the launch of the ADR Week programme for the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions in Sunyani, the Bono Region, last Monday.

It was on the theme: “Adoption of innovation and technology to enhance access to justice delivery through ADR.”

Statistics

In 2025, a total of 7,324 cases were referred to ADR across the country, out of which 2,195 cases were successfully settled.

Each case was resolved through mediation, thereby reducing pressure on the courts. It also lowered litigation costs for parties and helped in preserving social relationships that might otherwise be damaged by prolonged legal disputes.

The Chief Justice commended mediators for their patience, neutrality and professional skills in guiding disputing parties towards mutually acceptable solutions.

He said since the introduction of the court-connected ADR programme in 2005, the system had become an integral part of the country’s justice delivery framework, helping courts resolve disputes efficiently while reducing congestion.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said so far, 138 courts across the country were connected to the ADR programme and supported by a network of 336 trained mediators who facilitated the peaceful resolution of disputes.

He expressed hope that the ADR Week celebration would deepen public understanding of alternative dispute resolution and strengthen its role in promoting peaceful dispute resolution nationwide.

Innovation

A Justice of the Court of Appeal and Judge in charge of ADR, Angelina Mensah-Homiah, expressed the need for the adoption of innovative and technology-driven approaches to dispute resolution to improve access to justice.

She also said that for many years, the doors to justice appeared distant to ordinary people, particularly those in rural communities who often associated court processes with delays, high costs and adversarial outcomes.

Justice Mensah-Homiah said the introduction and expansion of ADR, supported by technology, had the potential to change that narrative by making justice more accessible, efficient and less confrontational.

She said virtual court platforms currently in use could also support virtual mediation sessions, enabling disputing parties to resolve cases without travelling long distances.

For her part, the Bono and Ahafo Supervising High Court Judge, Joyce Boahen, said she had compiled some 59 cases from four High Courts in the regions pending referral for ADR.

She urged judges, magistrates and lawyers to support the ADR system.