Regional News of Friday, 12 February 2010

Source: GNA

Let's ensure more public education on ADR

Worakose (Ash) Feb 12, GNA - Mr Joseph Asuming, Presiding Member of the Bosomtwe District Assembly, has called for more public education to encourage the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for settling conflicts. This, he said, could reduce the cost of seeking redress through the court system and lead to quick settling of cases. Mr Asuming, a legal practitioner, said there should not be any doubt that ADR could play a crucial role in the development of the country's judicial system.

He was speaking at this year's celebration of the "Kohwe Kose" festival by the chiefs and people of Worakose in the Bosomtwe District. He expressed dissatisfaction with the length of time it took in settling most cases at the traditional courts and counselled that people should use dialogue to resolve problems and misunderstandings. Mr Edward Nti-Berko, the District Chief Executive (DCE), urged communities to use such festivals to plan development projects to improve their living conditions.

The assembly, he said, would support them to tackle their socio-economic challenges. He appealed to the chiefs to release land for reforestation and said the assembly would soon employ 200 people to replant the area's degraded forests.

Nana Agyei Kwame II, Chief of Worakose, appealed to the assembly to help provide them with a mechanized bore hole to serve the water needs of the growing population. Additionally, it should build a market in the community and this could generate revenue for the assembly. The chief advised parents to see to it that all children of school going age in the community were not only enrolled in school but retained. 1