By Eric Appah Marfo
Accra, July 18, GNA – The Ghana Association of Certified Mediators and Arbitrators (GHACMA) has called for the expansion of Victim-Offender Mediation (VOM) and other Restorative Justice (RJ) approaches within Ghana’s justice system.
Speaking at a forum in Accra, Mr. Martin C. Nwosu, Chair of GHACMA’s Restorative Justice Committee, described RJ as a vital reform to ease the burden on Ghana’s overstretched criminal justice system.
“Our courts are inundated with cases—some so minor they do not merit full trials.
“Under restorative justice, both the victim and the offender can sit down, discuss the harm caused, and agree on how to make amends. This is more beneficial than simply punishing the offender,” he said.
The seminar was organised by GHACMA in collaboration with the Centre for African Peace and Conflict Resolution (CAPCR), and California State University, Sacramento.
It brought together stakeholders from the judiciary, law enforcement, academia, civil society, and community organisations.
GHACMA and CAPCR are advocating for greater public awareness, training for justice actors, the establishment of private mediation centres, and policy reforms to institutionalise RJ within Ghana’s criminal justice framework.
Mr. Nwosu criticised the retributive nature of the current system, noting that victims are often sidelined once the State assumes prosecution, while offenders face stigma and exclusion post-sentence, increasing the risk of reoffending.
He argued that minor cases such as non-aggravated assault and property damage congest courtrooms without delivering meaningful outcomes.
“A man slaps another. He’s fined or jailed. But what has the victim gained? Restorative justice allows the parties to talk, reconcile, and continue coexisting in peace,” Mr. Nwosu illustrated.
He cited Ghana’s Courts Act (Section 73) and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Section 64) as existing legal provisions for RJ, but noted that judicial discretion to refer cases to mediation is rarely exercised and often delayed.
“Referrals only happen after the first court appearance, which can take up to two or three months—causing unnecessary delay.”
Mr. Nwosu called for RJ to be institutionalised at pre-trial, trial, and post-trial stages to improve accessibility and flexibility.
Professor Ernest Uwazie, Director of CAPCR, said RJ focuses on repairing harm, restoring victims, rehabilitating offenders, and reintegrating both parties into society.
“It is especially crucial in preventing reoffending by addressing root causes like social exclusion and trauma.”
He outlined RJ mechanisms such as victim-offender mediation, peacemaking circles, family group conferencing, and community reparation boards, while cautioning 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 pivotal 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 emphasised 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.
Restorative justice, he noted, is more than a framework; it is a transformative movement reshaping justice across societies, institutions, and global communities.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey