Accra, Feb. 28, GNA - The Judicial Service of Ghana on Wednesday announced that the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) week will start from 19 to 23 March, 2007 in the Magistrate, Circuit and High Courts in Accra and Tema. A statement Service said the ADR week had been set aside by the Chief Justice to give parties involved in civil cases pending in court an opportunity to have their cases settled through mediation. Mediation is a dispute resolution process where parties in dispute mutually request for a mediator to assist in settling their dispute. Parties stand a chance of settling their dispute quickly without the usual court procedures.

The Service encouraged individuals involved in civil cases pending in court to contact the registrars of their respective courts to arrange for the scheduling of their cases for ADR. The programme starts at 0900 hours each day and aims at reducing the backlog of cases in the courts as well as enhancing the public's access to justice through the mainstreaming of ADR into court processes in the judicial service.

It is also aimed at educating the public on ADR mechanisms available to them in the courts, the statement said, adding that trained mediators would be assigned to each court to assist in the programme. The Service invited and encouraged the public to visit the courts to learn more about the ADR.