Ashaiman ADR settles 2,000 disputes

Tema, Dec. 27, GNA- The four centres of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at Ashaiman near Tema has since 2001 to date handled 2,000 cases to the satisfaction of litigants.

Three hundred of the cases were settled this year, Mr Sam K. Avuletey, Secretary of the ADR disclosed this at a press briefing at Ashaiman on Saturday.

Cases settled included rent, child maintenance, child neglect, unaccepted pregnancies, debt settlement, land dispute, minor assault, family disputes and marital problems.

He said the centres have cordial relations with related institution such as the courts, the Department of Social Welfare, the Police and the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) as they readily released vital information upon request.

"The ADR practitioners have no problem communicating with the courts, like forwarding cases and seeking enforcement orders", because the registrars/magistrates always find time to educate some us when we approach them for discussion and advice while some of the courts transfer cases to the ADR for resolution", he said.

He said the success story of the ADR indicates that the public have become aware of the concept and have embraced it wholeheartedly. "Litigants are very much at home using the mediation as a way of resolving issues at the centres as it affords them the chance to discuss with each other, the merits and demerits of issues involved in less time to reach amicable decision", he added.

Mr Avuletey, however, stated that the ADR practitioners encounter problems like rejection of invitations by respondents, breaching of agreement reached during settlements, and non-payments of fees by litigants to process legal documents.

He said though the mediators received training, there was the need for constant refresher courses to upgrade their knowledge.