Tema, Jan 24, GNA - The Ashaiman Centre of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) recorded 539 cases in 2008 as against 334 in 2007 with rent issues toping with 326 cases.

This was followed with debt recovery issues which attracted 92, electricity bills 42, child neglect and maintenance 30, land disputes 10 and marital disputes six, a report issued by the centre said. The ADR report signed by its executive members, Mr Gabriel Atsu, Mr Kingsley Kutiame and Ms Justina Ativor and issued to the Tema Office of the Ghana News Agency mentioned dispute on family property and denial of paternity as some of the cases received at the centre. It said the centre charged fees ranging from GH¢5.00 to GH¢10.00 to cover administrative expenses whilst complaints such as child neglect were dealt with free of charge. The report said the low income earners normally faced rent problems as most of them were unable to pay huge sums of rent allowances. It said with debt recovery, small scale income earners found it very difficult to re-pay loans taken from financial institutions as they used the loans in paying old debts instead of using it to transact business.

With regards to child neglect and maintenance, the report expressed worry that teenagers, concubines, second wives and widows fell victim to their partners who left their matrimonial homes when they faced financial difficulties. "Some of the men also convinced their lovers to stay with their relatives while they found jobs but in the end contract another marriage with rich women, it said. On land, the report advised prospective developers to always acquire their documents from the appropriate quarters to avoid unnecessary and prolonged litigations. To give the ADR the legal backing, the report appealed to parliament to pass its bill pending before it so that it could operate through out the country.

The ADR congratulated President John Evans Atta Mills and his Vice, Mr John Dramani Mahama on their victory to power. It expressed the hope that government would bring development to the country and create more jobs for the youth. It also congratulated the Speaker of parliament, Mrs Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo for her achievement and urged women to draw inspiration from it to aspire to the highest level. 24 Jan 09