Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has called on lawyers across the country to fully embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), assuring them that ADR poses no threat to their income but instead promotes early settlement of cases for the benefit of clients and the justice system.

He made the appeal at the launch of ADR Week at the Ho High Court in the Volta Region, held under the theme: “Adoption of Innovation and Technology to Enhance Access to Justice Delivery Through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).”

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie revealed that during his vetting, one of the main concerns raised related to delays in adjudication within the courts. He noted that ADR offers a practical solution to this longstanding challenge and urged lawyers to champion its advantages.

Quoting him, he emphasised: “Let us all imbibe the ADR. Let us all, from here, tell Ama, tell Akosua on and on and on, the benefits of ADR. … and the lawyers, ADR will not take your money away; it will not take your fees away. Lawyers should not be a hindrance to this ADR. Encourage your clients to go to ADR where appropriate.”

He stressed that ADR provides a smoother, faster, and more harmonious path to resolving disputes and called for its widespread adoption.

Justice Angelina Mensah-Homiah of the Court of Appeal, who is also the Judge in Charge of ADR, said nationwide engagements with judges, community leaders, and religious figures show a strong consensus that ADR is the future of justice delivery. She outlined procedures for accessing ADR services and referenced the ADR Act of 2010 (Act 798), which establishes an ADR Centre under Section 114. When fully operational, the Centre will have national, regional, and district offices to decentralise and streamline ADR services.

She disclosed that over the past 20 years, six ADR programmes have successfully settled more than 37,000 cases, underscoring the effectiveness of the system. She added that about 400 new mediators have recently been recruited under the court-connected ADR programme and will soon undergo training and deployment nationwide.

The Oti/Volta Regional President of the Ghana Bar Association, Moses Ayine Asampoa, described the theme for this year’s ADR Week as timely. He noted that although ADR is an effective intervention to reduce the burden on the courts and speed up case disposal, it remains highly underutilised.

He highlighted the benefits of ADR, stating: “It is important to state that the use of ADR is a very simple process, less expensive, and above all, ensures win-win outcomes in litigation. Furthermore, it allows for flexibility, speed, and privacy, all making it possible for parties to settle disputes amicably and efficiently.”

Mr Asampoa added that the future of justice in Ghana will depend on bold adoption of innovation and digital tools, noting that technology complements rather than replaces the human essence of justice. “The future of justice delivery in Ghana will depend on how boldly we embrace innovation today. Technology is not meant to replace the human face of justice; it is meant to empower it and allow for efficiency. ADR is inherently human-restorative, empathetic, and relationship-driven. Technology simply removes the barriers that prevent people from reaching it,” he said.

Volta Regional Minister James Gunu echoed these sentiments, stressing the transformational role of technology in expanding access to justice. According to him, “The adoption of innovation and technology is not just an option; it is an imperative. It is the pathway to expanding justice, reducing delays, and building a more inclusive dispute-resolution system. Through ADR, and with the power of digital transformation, we can bring justice closer to the people and create a system that is efficient, fair, and truly accessible to all.”

ADR Week is an annual initiative of the Judicial Service of Ghana aimed at promoting awareness, accessibility, and use of ADR mechanisms nationwide. By 2025, it had grown into a nationwide campaign involving education, free mediation services, community engagement, and mediator capacity-building. The 2025 edition placed special emphasis on innovation and technology, reflecting the judiciary’s commitment to modernising justice delivery.

Over the years, ADR Week has helped bring services closer to citizens, reduce court backlogs, and strengthen public confidence in peaceful, collaborative dispute resolution.