The Judicial Service of Ghana is set to recruit more professionally trained mediators to expand its Court-Connected Alternative Dispute Resolution programme, in a move aimed at improving access to justice and speeding up dispute resolution across the country.

The decision follows the Court-Connected ADR Secretariat’s approval to hire certified mediators to strengthen the existing pool of court mediators nationwide.

Justice Angelina Mensah-Homiah, Judge-in-Charge of the programme, disclosed the development during a meeting with Dr Francis Kofi Korankye-Sakyi, Executive Secretary of the newly established Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre.

She said the new approach marks a shift from the previous system, in which individuals were recruited and later trained, to one that prioritizes already-trained and accredited professionals.

“The ADR industry is expanding rapidly, and there is a clear need for effective coordination and standardisation,” Justice Mensah-Homiah said, expressing confidence that the new Centre would ensure consistency and professionalism in the sector.

She urged the Centre to establish a comprehensive national database of accredited practitioners to make it easier for the public to access qualified mediators and arbitrators.

Highlighting ongoing judicial reforms, she pointed to provisions under the High Court (Civil Procedure) (Amendment) Rules, 2020 (C.I. 133), which allow judges to mediate cases with the consent of parties. She called for enhanced training to equip judges to take on such roles effectively.

Justice Mensah-Homiah also welcomed the Centre’s recent caution against unregulated dispute resolution programmes in the media, describing the trend as a growing concern for the Judiciary.

Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, representing the Chief Justice, said the establishment of the ADR Centre would help consolidate gains made under the Court-Connected ADR programme.

“The Judicial Service appreciates the importance of ADR in enhancing justice delivery. Any collaboration in this regard is a win-win for us,” he said.

He noted that over the past two decades, the programme has helped reduce case backlogs and promoted faster, amicable settlement of disputes.

Dr Korankye-Sakyi announced plans to introduce a national practice manual to standardise ADR procedures in line with the ADR Act, 2010 (Act 798), and revealed that a Legislative Instrument is being developed to fully operationalise the Centre’s regulatory mandate.

He said the Centre would focus on three pillars—“Resolve, Reconcile and Rebuild”—to promote sustainable dispute resolution outcomes.

Calling for deeper integration of ADR into the justice system, he advocated mandatory ADR processes for civil cases, citing examples from jurisdictions such as Canada, The Gambia, and South Africa.

Mr Austin Gamey, an ADR expert who accompanied him, stressed the need for strong support from legal practitioners, noting that “the success of ADR depends significantly on the understanding and cooperation of lawyers.”

He added that ADR complements rather than replaces traditional litigation.

Other stakeholders, including Jacob Soung and Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu, underscored the importance of sustained training and institutional collaboration to strengthen ADR practice.

The two institutions agreed to deepen cooperation in regulation, capacity building and the delivery of high-quality ADR services, as part of efforts to scale up the use of alternative dispute resolution in Ghana’s justice system.