By James Esuon
Gomoa Manso (C/R), May 24, GNA-Obrempong Nyanful Krampah XI, the Omanhene of Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area has unveiled an Arbitration and Mediation center at Gomoa Manso to promote peaceful adjudication of land and chieftaincy disputes affecting the growth of the area.
The center will serve as an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) for amicable settlement of such cases to ease pressure at the law courts and decrease costs incurred by litigants.
Addressing the chiefs, lawyers, judges and family heads after unveiling the centre, Obrempon Nyanful Krampah noted that the creation of the center would go a long way to ensure harmony in Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area and bring peace and development to the people.
He said the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Council had appointed Osofo Nana Nkrumah Danwuah I, who is also the Nkabohene of the Area, as chairman and would be supported by some Divisional Chiefs to adjudicate cases that may come before them.
The Omanhene said the center would slso serve as a learning and reference point for other traditional councils in the Central region and beyond.
Lawyers, Judges, Chiefs and family heads present at the ceremony, described the center as ‘historic’ and hoped it would enhance the chieftaincy institution in the Gomoa and beyond.
He urged the Divisional Chiefs and others to rally support for it to unite the chiefs and people of the traditional Area and beyond.
Nana Osompa Osofo Kweku Nkrumah Danquah, chairman of the Center expressed joy that the numerous land and chieftaincy cases pending before the law courts would be minimised.
He mentioned some of the benefits of the center as the curtailment of huge fees paid to lawyers, and the heavy costs awarded against parties seeking fairness and justice while marital disputes would also be settled there.
Nana Danquah explained that criminal cases would not be entertained there, and assured that chieftaincy and land cases would be handled devoid of biases, and discrimination, and urged all traditional councils to establish similar centers in their respective areas to reduce the burden on judges and lawyers.
Nana Danquah commended Obrempong Nyanful Krampah, who is also the President of Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Council for his wisdom and high sense of maturity in administering chieftaincy issues.
Mr Benedict Bosu Simpson, private legal practitioner and counsel for Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Council, praised Obrempong Nyanful Krampah for his initiative and described it as ‘historic’ and urged others to emulate it.
Mr Simpson called on the chairman and his members to apply the rule of law and fairness to all parties that may appear before them.
Mr Victor Kusi, judge of the Agona Swedru Magistrate’s Court, commended the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area for the establishment of the center.
He re-echoed calls to the chairman and his panel members to uphold the rule of law for the people in Gomoa and Agona and beyond to reap the benefits.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey /Kenneth Odeng Adade