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Public urged to opt for ADR
A Justice of the Court of Appeal with oversight responsibility for ADR, Mrs Angelina Mensah-Homiah, has urged members of the public to opt for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for the many benefits that comes with it.
In a media engagement in the Ashanti region, she emphasised that resolving cases through ADR either than litigation “brings finality to such cases faster than going through the traditional processes in courts which are burdened with so many cases.”
According to her, about 38,447 out of 88,451cases, representing 43 per cent have successfully been resolved through the ADR initiative since its introduction into the justice delivery system in 2005.
The media brief formed part of pre-activities ahead of the ADR Week scheduled for March 17-21.
It allowed the team of officials from the ADR unit of the Judicial Service to visit the markets to sensitise the women on ADR as an option for court users.
She said that even cases already before the court could be withdrawn for settlement trough ADR.
At the Kumasi Race Course, the traders applauded the introduction of the ADR mechanism into Ghana’s justice delivery system, but wanted more public education on the initiative.
They stated that ADR presented a unique opportunity for court users to amicably resolve disputes devoid of litigation, but many of their people were not aware of the system.
Some of the traders who spoke to the media after an engagement with various queen mothers expressed their desire to take advantage of the mechanism in seeking redress.
Madam Beatrice Mpianin, the Deputy Queen mother at the Race Course Market, said it was refreshing to know that there was other means of settling cases without litigation and thanked the team for the education.
She, therefore, recommended ADR to her fellow women to save them legal fees and precious time that could be invested in their businesses.
She entreated the Judicial Service to extend the education on ADR to other markets in the metropolis for others to benefit from such important message.
Justice Mrs Dorinda Smith Arthur, a High Court Judge, who was part of the team, said ADR ensured dialogue between the two parties with the mediator only serving as a referee, hence the outcomes were mostly mutual.
She reminded them that since the outcomes of ADR were voluntary, no party could appeal after the consent judgment had been endorsed by the judge.
Justice Hannah Taylor, Supervising High Court Judge for Ashanti Region, said considering the tall list of cases before the courts, opting for ADR was the way to go in order to ease the pressure on Presiding Judges.
From Kingsley Hope E. Hope, Kumasi
News
Prof. Mike Oquaye accuses gov’t of ‘secret trial’ of Chief Justice
Former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has criticised the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over what he described as the mishandling of the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
He is unhappy with the constitutional provision requiring the hearing of the Chief Justice’s case to be held in-camera.
“I am concerned about certain issues that I consider vital, particularly the trial in-camera provision. You will ask yourself what the rationale is for that provision in our constitution, what is its purpose, and if we are to give it a purposeful interpretation, where shall we go? The purpose is it to benefit the people of Ghana as a whole, that the Chief Justice must be trial in-camera…”
He added, “From the very beginning, the constitution tells us justice belongs to the people, it emanates from the people, justice belongs to all of us people, one may say that this provision could be advarance to the one that says trial must be done in-camera.” he said in an exclusive interview with JoyNews.
Prof. Oquaye also raised concerns about the transparency and integrity of the process.
He argued that the judiciary must be insulated from political interference, adding that the current handling of the matter risks eroding confidence in the rule of law.
The Chief Justice was recently suspended following allegations of misconduct, after which a formal petition was submitted to President John Mahama, prompting the formation of a committee to investigate the matter.
The proceedings, however, have largely been conducted in-camera, drawing criticism from sections of the public and some legal minds.
While the NDC government maintains that the suspension was carried out in accordance with constitutional provisions, Prof. Quaye argues that the secrecy surrounding the process undermines the principles of accountability and due process.
Source:Myjoyonline.com
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Committee on Roads and Transport engages Transport Ministry
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport has paid a familiarization visit to the Ministry of Transport and its agencies to perform its legislative oversight and foster collaboration in Ghana’s transport sector.
The visit by the 17-member Committee led by its Chairman, Isaac Adjei Mensah, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Wassa East Constituency in the Western Region, was aimed at getting updates on ongoing projects and foster direct dialogue with agencies under the Ministry’s purview.
The Chairman of the committee described the visit as “a strategic and symbolic gesture” and emphasized the importance of direct engagement with sector leadership to enable informed legislative support.
The Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe outlined some reforms including a framework to regularize commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada by lowering the minimum rider age from 25 years to 21 years, which is near completion and will soon be presented to Parliament.
He also mentioned the reviving of Ghana’s national carrier via a public-private partnership, upgrading airport infrastructure, studying coastal routes to ease road congestion, opening a new DVLA branch in Adenta, and upgrading the Ghana Civil Aviation Training Academy.
The minister also disclosed that the ministry is in the process of procuring new buses for Metro Mass and STC.
The other Members of the visiting Committee were Chiwitey Dari Andrew, Vice Chairperson and MP for Sawla/Tuna/Kalba; Osei Nyarko Kennedy, MP for Akim Swedru and the Ranking Member; Francis Asenso-Boakye, MP for Bantama; Frimpong Kwame Ohene, MP for Asante Akim North; Cudjoe Doyoe Comfort, Ada MP; Marfo Ahenkorah Kofi, MP for Achiase; Mahama Toure Naser, Ayawaso East MP; Ziedeng Anwataazumo Bede, MP for Lawra and Mubarak Seid, MP for Sunyani East.
The Committee also visited the Civil Aviation Authority and the Civil Aviation Training Centre to be acquainted with its functions and operations.
