The Ghana Association of Certified Mediators and Arbitrators (GHACMA), on Friday, ended a five-day training workshop in Accra for 30 participants on Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR).
The workshop, which started on Monday, taught the participants how to establish and operate ADR centres.
It equipped participants with skills and knowledge to enable them to provide accessible and inexpensive ADR services to disputants to resolve their disputes right at their doorstep.
The 40-hour training took the trainees through Understanding Conflict and Conflict Management, Understanding ADR, The ADR Act, 2010 (Act 798), The Legal Framework for ADR in Ghana, Negotiation Basics and Understanding Mediation Techniques and Processes.
Others included Introduction to Customary Arbitration Techniques and Processes, Court Connected ADR and other Formal ADR Processes, Differences between Litigation, Arbitration, and Mediation, Communication in ADR, How to Draft Settlement Agreements and Ethical Considerations in ADR.
The Chairperson of GHACMA, Ms Georgette Francois, at the closing ceremony, said the training would help the participants acquire the necessary skills required to facilitate a negotiation process to achieve effective mediation.
She stated that the participants would be able to understand court connected ADR, other formal ADR processes such as Litigation and Arbitration.
“As expected, participants have gained a thorough understanding of the various methods and techniques in conflict management and alternative dispute resolution.
They have also developed skills and knowledge about the entire process of a negotiation, mediation, consensus building and arbitration, as well as other ADR efforts after engaging in practical role-play exercises dealing with real life situations to realise the early and peaceful resolution of disputes and complaints that are submitted to the PURC,” Ms Francois said.
She explained that, ADR Centers were established to effectively resolve disputes that have satisfactory solutions and improve access to justice.
“As the use of ADR in resolving disputes is becoming more and more popular in Ghana, the demand for ADR Centres is beginning to grow.
However, ack of ADR Centres operating in the country continues to pose a challenge to the development of ADR in Ghana.
Over 90 per cent of persons who have received ADR Skills Based Training are unable to set up their ADR Centres because they have not received the necessary training,” she stated.
A participant in the training, Mr Joseph Seyena-Susu, said the training was a great opportunity for him as it was in line with his career.
As a visual impaired person, he urged persons with disabilities to partake in training opportunities such as ADR to build up their skills.
The 30 participants were presented with certificates.
BY CECILIA LAGBA YADA
