Chief Justice declares March 16 to 20 ADR Week

Courts across Ghana will dedicate the week of 16 to 20 March 2026 to Alternative Dispute Resolution, following a nationwide directive by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.

The initiative, declared as ADR Week, is expected to focus public attention on how mediation and other non-adversarial processes can improve access to justice.

This year’s observance will run under the theme: “Adoption of Innovation and Technology to enhance access to Justice Delivery through Alternative Dispute Resolution.”

In a statement signed by Ms Christiana Puorideme, Acting Deputy Director of ADR, the Judicial Service said the exercise is intended not only to educate the public about ADR within the court system, but also to give litigants with pending cases the chance to resolve their disputes through a special Mass Mediation Exercise.

As part of the programme, 138 courts nationwide will take part. These include 35 Circuit Courts and 103 District Courts, all of which will devote the week to settling suitable cases through ADR mechanisms.

The official opening is scheduled for Monday, 16 March 2026, when the Chief Justice is expected to address the media at the High Court in Sunyani in the Bono Region.

According to the Judicial Service, the week forms part of the broader Court Connected ADR programme, under which ADR has been integrated into the judicial process.

The institution says the approach is meant to make justice delivery quicker, less costly and less confrontational, while also remaining flexible and more accessible, especially for vulnerable and underprivileged court users.

The statement also called on lawyers, litigants, journalists and the wider public to take part and support the exercise throughout the legal term.