The Lands Commission has initiated a comprehensive Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) training workshop to equip its staff with advanced conflict resolution skills.
The workshop, held in Accra began on October1, was part of the Commission's commitment to improving land dispute management in the wake of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036).
The Land Act mandates that parties involved in land disputes must exhaust all ADR procedures under the ADR Act, 2010 (Act 798), before turning to litigation.
In line with this, the Lands Commission organized the training to ensure its staff is fully prepared to implement peaceful and cost-effective dispute resolution methods.
The day one of the training covered key areas such as: The role of ADR in Lands Commission by Surv. Kofi Obeng -Ayirebi FGhIS, Effective Communication in ADR delivered by Surv. Cobbold, FGhIS and an overview of Ghana's Alternative Dispute Resolution, Act 2010 (Act 798) by Surv.Patrick Sodja BotchwayESQ, FGhIS*
Facilitated by experts from the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS), the workshop drew participants from different divisions of the Lands Commission.
The four-day training is to provide practical knowledge in negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution, essential for handling the Commission's numerous land disputes.
Surv. Dr. Anthony Arko-Adjei, President of GhIS, welcomed the participants, encouraging them to actively engage and understand the appropriate ADR mechanisms for various disputes.
“The skills gained from this training will enable the Commission to offer improved service to the public, ensuring faster and more efficient land dispute management,” he stated.
He further commended the management of the Commission for the opportunity to showcase their expertise in these related fields.
"The traditional courts are chocked with too many land dispute cases, hence, the urgent need to resort to ADR mechanisms for a faster and amicable resolution of these land disputes to ease the pressure on the courts" he noted.
He added that the Lands Commission handles huge volumes of applications that may involve dispute cases and has long incorporated ADR into their conflict resolution processes to ensure smooth registration of interests.
"The Land Act has come to empower the Commission to look at it more critically as it has the potential to reduce the long protracted never-ending land disputes in our courts," he remarked.
Surv. Jones Ofori-Boadu, Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of Corporate Services, highlighted the significance of ADR in enhancing the Commission’s capacity to resolve land disputes.
“This workshop is crucial for empowering our staff to manage disputes more efficiently. ADR offers a faster, cost-effective, and peaceful alternative to court proceedings,” he said.
Surv. Ofori-Boadu emphasized that the training aligns with the institution’s mission of delivering efficient and effective land administration in Ghana.
The initiative represents a significant step toward enhancing the Commission’s capabilities, offering quicker, less costly, and peaceful resolutions to land disputes, ultimately benefiting the public and promoting better land administration.
He revealed that the training would be replicated in other regions to ensure staff are well equipped with the requisite skills for this task.
Background
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms have proven to be invaluable tools in settling conflicts without the need for court litigation.
The most common methods include mediation, arbitration, customary arbitration, negotiation, collaborative law, and adjudication.
These methods provide quicker, cost-effective, and peaceful alternatives to resolving disputes.
Mediation, a key ADR method, involves a neutral third party helping the disputing parties reach a mutual agreement.
Collaborative law, a variation of mediation, allows each party to retain their lawyer while agreeing to settle the dispute out of court.
Negotiation, another method, involves direct communication between the disputing parties, often leading to faster, amicable resolutions.
In more complex cases, expert witnesses—specialists with in-depth knowledge—are called upon to offer insights that facilitate early dispute resolution.
Other specialized ADR methods, such as conciliation, expert determination, and reconciliation, also play essential roles in resolving disputes across various sectors, providing diverse solutions tailored to different conflict situations.
Day two of the training tackled the following salient topics: The requirements of ADR by the Land Act, 2020,Act 11036and was handled by Surv. Dr.Odame-Larbi, FGhIS.
The other topic was Introduction to Negotiation and was also handled by Surv. J.E.K Dadson, FGhIS (PP).
Likewise, Introduction to Mediation/Mediation Agreement and was also handled by Surv. Kofi Obeng-Ayirebi, FGhIS.
The training offers a platform for sharing real-life experiences, knowledge transfer, and acquisition and also a sense of bonding.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
Comments