Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie says the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) remains one of the most effective mechanisms of a justice system accessible, efficient and responsive to the needs of the people.
He said that the judicial system continued to embrace innovation and technology essential to strengthen ADR as a key pillar of the nation’s justice delivery, saying that by doing so, the nation promoted fair, timely and inclusive justice administration.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said this when speaking at the launch of ADR Week in Sunyani, on the theme: “Adoption of Innovation and Technology to Enhance Access to Justice Delivery through ADR.”
The week-long celebration, scheduled between Monday, March 16 and Friday, March 20, 2026, provides the ADR Directorate of the Judicial Service with an opportunity to intensify awareness about the role and availability of ADR within the court system.
It further allows the public to explore alternative dispute settlements through mediation.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie noted that the success of ADR largely depended on the commitment and cooperation of all stakeholders and judges and magistrates to promote the ADR concept by identifying appropriate cases for referral to ADR.
He said the leadership and confidence of the judges and magistrate remained essential for strengthening the ADR mechanism and urged the judicial service staff to also contribute towards administering effective ADR processes.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said he was highly optimistic that the 2026 ADR Week would deepen public understanding of alternative dispute resolution, encourage greater participation and strengthen the role of ADR in promoting peaceful dispute resolution.
Mr Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister noted that though the traditional court system remained central to the administration of justice, ADR provided a complementary and effective pathway for resolving disputes.
He said the ADR promoted dialogue, understanding and reconciliation and described the theme for the week as timely and forward-looking.
He said that technology was transforming every sector of human life, saying that the justice system ought to equally embrace innovations to meet the growing expectations of the public.
Mr Akwaboa said by integrating technology into ADR processes, delays in dispute resolution could be significantly reduced, minimizing the cost of litigation as well as enhancing public confidence in the justice delivery system.
GNA
