Ashaiman, March 12, GNA - The Ashaiman Central Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) centre settled 832 cases out of 849 cases brought before it in 2009. Mr Gabriel Atsu, Chairperson of the Ashaiman ADR Centre, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Friday that 793 of the cases were received from Ashaiman while 56 came from outside the Municipality. Out of the 832 cases settled, rent-related cases were the majority - 562 cases.

Mr Atsu said the rent-related cases were followed by 168 debt recovery cases, 18 child neglect cases and 15 each of marital and land disputes. The rest are 13 disputes over payment of electricity bills, seven denials over family property and five denial of paternity as well as 46 miscellaneous cases. He said tenants were mostly the complainants in the rent-related matters. Mr Atsu said cases of landlords demanding two years or more rent advance dominated the complaints and most of these houses are without toilets, kitchens and verandas. He said some tenants were also brought before the Centre by their landlords during the period for performing rituals in the houses.

Mr Atsu said in such cases, the tenants alleged that they were ordered by their pastors and Mallams to perform the rituals for their protection. Under debt recovery, some recipients of loans from banks and individuals used the money for house-keeping, payment of rent and school fees among others, making it difficult to refund the money. He said child neglect was very rampant in the Ashaiman community.

Mr Atsu said most of these children were denied access to education, medical and parental care, compelling them to undertake all sorts of menial jobs to support themselves. He said boys aged between 10 and 15 years were engaged in collection of refuse and carrying of goods on daily basis from houses, markets, shops and lorry stations for a fee.