The Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has called for an increased adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to ease the pressure on the country’s court system and provide quicker solutions to disputes.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 ADR Week in Kumasi, she emphasized that not all disputes need to be resolved through litigation. The high costs and extended timelines associated with traditional court cases can often leave valid claims unresolved, especially for businesses.
The ADR framework, established under the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798), encourages the use of methods such as arbitration, mediation, and negotiation to settle disputes. Since its introduction in 2005, over 38,000 cases have been successfully resolved through court-connected ADR.
Justice Sackey Torkornoo further highlighted that ADR offers a more flexible and cost-effective path to justice, benefiting both businesses and individuals.
She pointed out the success of initiatives like the Commercial Courts and pre-trial settlement conferences, which have reduced delays in resolving commercial disputes.
ADR remains a voluntary process, where parties can agree to settle and have their terms adopted by the court as a consent judgment. This process is seen as essential for economic stability and a more efficient justice system in Ghana.
