Accra: The Ghana Association of Certified Mediators and Arbitrators (GHACMA) has urged the expansion of Victim-Offender Mediation (VOM) and other Restorative Justice (RJ) approaches within Ghana's justice system. This call to action was made during a forum held in Accra, where Mr. Martin C. Nwosu, Chair of GHACMA's Restorative Justice Committee, outlined the necessity of RJ as a reform to alleviate the burden on the country's overstretched criminal justice system.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Nwosu highlighted how RJ allows victims and offenders to engage in dialogue, discuss harm, and agree on reparations, offering a more constructive alternative to traditional punitive measures. The seminar, co-organized by GHACMA, the Centre for African Peace and Conflict Resolution (CAPCR), and California State University, Sacramento, brought together key stakeholders from the judiciary, law enforcement, academia, civil society, and community organizations.
GHACMA and CAPCR are advocating for increased public awareness, specialized training for justice actors, the establishment of private mediation centers, and policy reforms to institutionalize RJ within Ghana's criminal justice framework. Mr. Nwosu criticized the current system's retributive nature, where victims often feel sidelined once the State assumes prosecution, while offenders face stigma and exclusion post-sentence, increasing the likelihood of reoffending.
He pointed out that minor cases like non-aggravated assault and property damage unnecessarily congest courtrooms without delivering meaningful outcomes. By citing Ghana's Courts Act (Section 73) and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Section 64), Mr. Nwosu noted existing legal provisions for RJ, though judicial discretion to refer cases to mediation is seldom exercised and often delayed. He advocated for the institutionalization of RJ at pre-trial, trial, and post-trial stages to enhance accessibility and flexibility.
Professor Ernest Uwazie, Director of CAPCR, emphasized RJ's focus on repairing harm, restoring victims, rehabilitating offenders, and reintegrating both parties into society. He stressed the importance of RJ in preventing reoffending by addressing root causes such as social exclusion and trauma. RJ mechanisms like victim-offender mediation, peacemaking circles, family group conferencing, and community reparation boards were outlined as effective strategies, with a caution that RJ must be part of a broader strategy involving investment in education, health, and youth employment.
Mr. William Pitt, Acting Chair of GHACMA's Interim Management Committee, hailed the seminar as a crucial step in advancing justice reform. He expressed confidence that the gathering would foster bold dialogue, enhance awareness, and empower attendees to champion restorative approaches. Mr. Pitt emphasized the need for Ghana to re-examine its justice system not solely through the lens of punishment and legal formalities, but with a focus on empathy, healing, and reintegration, asserting that restorative justice is a transformative movement reshaping justice across societies, institutions, and global communities.
