News
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She said that even cases already before the court could be withdrawn for settlement trough ADR.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
Accra Polo Club, South African Tourism hold 68th Independence Cup
To commemorate Ghana’s Independence Day, the Accra Polo Club in partnership with South African Tourism organised 68th Independence Cup.
The event held last Saturday brought together Ghanaians and South Africans for a memorable experience.
It highlighted a celebration of premium lifestyle, culture and a showcasing of brotherly competition between South Africa and Ghana.
The event saw Ghana’s Accra Polo Club secure a reverberating 9-1 victory over South Africa’s Sparta Polo Club.
Speaking at the ceremony,Acting South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Thando Dalamba, commended the organising team for putting up a superb event.
According to him, South Africa Tourism together with the Accra Polo Club over the years have ensured an event of this nature to bring about cohesion and strengthen the bilateral relationship.
He emphasised the strong affinity Ghanaians have for South Africa, reinforcing why they continued to visit in large numbers.
The South African team’s participation in the polo tournament was a strategic move to deepen the sporting and cultural ties between the two nations while subtly promoting travel to South Africa.
The joy was made complete with good food, music, and an immersive South African experience.
News
Heritage Month Ghana trends
Since the institution of the Heritage Month celebration in Ghana, it has offered citizens opportunities of a lifetime to learn about their cultures and lifestyles.
Ghana’s version is observed in the month of March, coinciding with the country’s Independence Day celebrations on March 6.
Show host, George Sappor in full
regalia as a traditional leader
outfit to mark Independence Day and
Heritage Month. She usually does it with
husband and best friend, Kofi Aduonum
but in his absence, she maintained the
poise to attract the atte
Heritage Month features festivals, food fairs, arts, crafts, and music events to highlight the economic and social value of preserving national heritage.
Though a brainchild of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the celebration has been driven to greater heights by local media with the organisation of several events to create the needed euphoria.
at Original TV gave
culture a touch of ‘old
school’ in her presentation
last Tuesday to wow
her audience as part of
the station’s Heritage
Month celebration
Among the events are the Heritage Caravan and Back To Your Village Food Bazaar powered by Accra-based Citi FM and Citi TV, Wear Ghana Festival and the Gɔbɛ festival powered by 3News.
The Heritage Caravan is a road trip which takes patrons across more than half of Ghana’s regions to offer a distinctive road trip that allows participants to explore the various regions of Ghana, providing an up-close encounter with the country’s historical and cultural heritage.
In addition to these roles played by the media, news anchors and other presenters appear on screens immaculately garbed in locally made outfits, bringing out the beauty of our traditions.
Today, The Spectator newspaper selected a few of the media personalities that are working to give the celebration a global dimension to project the country.
By Andrew Nortey
