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Make Ghana ADR hub in West Africa, Africa – Pres Akufo-Addo
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practitioners in Ghana to strive towards ensuring that Ghana, as has been achieved in other areas, becomes the regional hub of settling disputes via ADR.
President Akufo-Addo is confident that, the establishment of an ADR centre, 14 years after the promulgation of the ADR act 798, will further provide a viable opportunity for multi million dollar commercial disputes and cases involving the use of the state’s valuable natural resources to be resolved in Ghana in a very wholesome environment, and will also enable ADR practitioners, particularly members of the Ghana Bar Association to sharpen their skills in the resolution of such disputes.
Accordingly, the nation’s strong democratic credentials, a liberal and open economy, and an environment conducive to business in general, coupled with the nation’s strong judicial system and pro-arbitration courts, give it a big advantage in the race to be the arbitration nerve centre in the whole of Africa and in West Africa, in particular. Our neighbouring countries should find Ghana, a safe haven for the resolution of disputes, just as they do for investment.
This, he added, “shall propel Ghana to be an arbitration hub in Africa, particularly in West Africa.”
President Akufo-Addo said this when he, pursuant to section 1181 of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act 2010, (Act 789), inaugurated the Governing Board of the Alternative Resolution Centre into office at the Jubilee House in Accra.
Chaired by the respected retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Victor Jones Mawulom Dotse, who was nominated by the President alongside Mrs Efua Ghartey, the membership also includes Francis Kofi Korankye-Sakyi, from the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Michael Gyang Owusu, from the Ghana Bar Association, Surv. Jose Nicco-Annan, from the Ghana Institute of Surveyors, Her Ladyship Angelina Mensah-Homiah, from the Judiciary, Ms Joyce Adu, of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Mrs Philomena Aba Sampson, a representative from Organised labour.
President Akufo-Addo, noted that ADR mechanisms such as mediation, arbitration and negotiation provide parties with the opportunity to resolve their disputes, amicably preserving relationships and fostering a culture of dialogue and understanding.
These methods have proven to be effective in several jurisdictions around the world, and he was confident it would yield similar benefits here in Ghana.
Describing it as a new chapter in civil litigation in Ghana, the President alluded to the several times and occasions when and where, the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and the Private Enterprise Federation (PEF) have all called for the introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, particularly arbitration to alleviate the congestion in the courts and to enhance expertise and specialisation in certain areas of the law especially commercial law, investment law, energy law and natural resources law.
He commended the current Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkornoo, and the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, for their diligence in bringing the centre into being, and again commended the office of the Attorney General for effectively advocating Ghana’s interests on the international stage and achieving favourable outcomes to various arbitration proceedings, resulting in little or no cost to the nation.
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Youth urged to take proactive stance on ozone depletion
•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student
Mr Joseph Amankwah, the Director of Ozone Layer and Climate Change at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has urged the youth to take a proactive stance on issues related to ozone depletion, emphasising that their future would be most affected by its consequences.
Speaking during a student engagement event at the Ghana Secondary School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, he highlighted the critical role young people played in tackling climate-related challenges.
Mr Amankwah explained that human activities, such as the use of certain chemicals, were significantly contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and driving climate change.
He said it was important to educate the youth on these issues, encouraging them to share this knowledge with their families to foster a broader understanding and active participation in climate action.
He urged the education sector to integrate lessons on the ozone layer, the causes of its depletion, and its links to climate change into the curriculum.
The event, organised by the EPA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was designed to foster environmental awareness and promote a sense of responsibility among young people.
Mr Amankwah noted that ozone layer depletion was affecting everyone, including children, as it alters weather patterns and threatens the natural environment.
He highlighted the need for young people to develop ‘green skills’ to adapt to the challenges of climate change and to understand ways to combat it.
He added that World Ozone Day, observed every September, would focus on youth engagement in environmental issues, to help them understand the long-term consequences of ozone depletion and climate change.
Mr Amankwah also discussed the harmful impact of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a major chemical contributor to ozone depletion.
He explained that household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners were common sources of CFC emissions in Ghana.
Many uncertified technicians work on these appliances, often releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere due to improper handling, he noted.
To address this, he urged appliance repairers to obtain proper certification and training, emphasising that unqualified repairs not only harm the environment but also endangered public health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman,
Koforidua
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Small-scale miners schooled on health hazards of mining with mercury
Mr Lovelace Sarpong (right) addressing the participants
Some Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners in the Ashanti and Central regions have been sensitised on the potential health dangers humans are exposed to with the use of mercury in gold processing.
The sensitisation which was organised by PlanetGOLD Ghana project was to raise awareness about the negative impacts on the use of mercury in mining activities.
According to the PlanetGOLD Ghana Project Coordinator, Mr Lovelace Sarpong, the use of mercury in artisanal small-scale mining pose health challenges that affects the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys; and may be fatal.
Some Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) that benefited from the exercise were Amansie Central, Asante Akim North, Amansie South, Amansie West, Bekwai, and Adansi North in the Ashanti Region, and Upper Denkyira East (Dunkwa-on-Offin) and Upper Denkyira West (Diaso) in the Central Region.
Additionally, he said inorganic salts of mercury were corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.
He stated that the PlanetGOLD Project has conducted several initiatives to raise awareness on reducing mercury exposure among artisanal and small-scale gold mining actors in the country.
It was to promote mercury-free mining practices in line with Ghana’s obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, support the formalisation of the ASGM sector while advocating the adoption of the CRAFT Code and responsible supply chains, and raise awareness on the availability of mercury-free alternatives.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Area Head for Konongo, Mr Dawood Abbas, underscored the importance of government’s environmental regulations and EPA’s role in ensuring compliance within the ASGM sector.
He encouraged miners to prioritise environmental stewardship to gain community trust and secure a Social License to Operate (SLO) and reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to enforce its commitments under the Minamata Convention.
BY Cecilia Lagba Yada
