The Judicial Service of Ghana on Tuesday said this year’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Week has been scheduled for July 16 to 20 on the theme: “Court-Connected ADR: 'The Citizens’ Participation in the Administration of Justice”.

Members of the public who have cases pending in the courts are therefore encouraged to contact the Registrars of the Courts to request their cases to be referred for mediation.

A statement issued by Mr. Alex Nartey, National ADR Coordinator and copied to Ghana News Agency in Accra, said ADR had been adopted by the Judicial Service as part of its Judicial Reform Programme.

The ADR mechanism would be used to resolve cases in all the 52 courts connected to ADR throughout the week nationwide.

Activities would be preceded by a press briefing at the Cocoa Affairs Court on July 16.

“The concept is basically aimed at ensuring that access to justice in Ghana is made easier, cheaper, non adversarial, expeditious and flexible to all, particularly the poor and vulnerable,” the statement said.

"In line with this, the Chief Justice in her policy directive on Court Connected ADR has set aside ADR Week in every Legal Year term, firstly to give parties the opportunity to settle their cases through mediation, and secondly to run programmes and activities to create awareness on the availability of ADR as an option to settle cases faster and cheaper in the courts."

There would be interviews on Radio and television stations throughout the country during the celebration to educate, sensitise and create public awareness on the “Court Connected ADR” Mechanism.

“ The public is therefore invited to visit the courts, Offices of the Regional ADR Coordinators, and the National ADR Directorate within the Supreme Court Building, Accra, to learn more about ADR in the Judicial Service,” it said.**