CUG LAUNCHES 5-DAY ADR WORKSHOP TO CHAMPION PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION

By CUG NEWS MEDIA

 

Fiapre – August 4, 2025

In a nation where courtrooms are often overwhelmed and community disputes linger unresolved, the Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) in Fiapre is carving a different path — one paved with dialogue, understanding, and peaceful resolution.

On Monday morning, the university’s serene campus became the heartbeat of a national conversation on conflict transformation. More than 50 participants drawn from across the Bono, Ahafo, Ashanti, Central, Volta, Greater Accra, and the Upper Regions gathered to begin a five-day intensive training in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

From traditional rulers and clergy to security service personnel and civil society leaders, the diversity of participants mirrored the richness and complexity of the Ghanaian society they hope to serve more peacefully.

Leading this transformative initiative is the Marian and Conflict Resolution Centre (MCRC) of the Catholic University, which continues to position itself as a hub for peace building and justice innovation in the sub-region.

But what made the opening day especially poignant was the presence of Hon. Diana Asonaba Dapaah, Esq., a former Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice. As one of the facilitators, her message was both practical and prophetic.

“ADR is not merely a legal alternative; it is a return to the roots of African conflict resolution. It is accessible, it heals, and it empowers communities,” she said to a captivated participants. “We must invest in processes that unite rather than divide.”

Her call was echoed by other distinguished facilitators, each bringing a wealth of experience to the table.

Mr. Alex Nartey, former National Coordinator for the Court-Connected ADR Programmed at the Judicial Service, emphasized the urgent need to rethink justice delivery in Ghana. “Litigation doesn’t always deliver peace. ADR often does,” he remarked, urging participants to become change agents in their regions.

The workshop’s spiritual depth was grounded by Rev. Fr. Dr. Thomas Oppong Fibiri, JCD, Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Sunyani and canon lawyer, who bridged the gap between faith and justice. His perspective: "True reconciliation begins with understanding—not accusation."

Also on the faculty were Mr. George Kafui Agbezo, a respected High Court mediator and senior lecturer; Dr. Mrs. Vida Korang, Director of MCRC and practicing mediator; and Very Rev. Fr. James Annor-Ohene, Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Techiman and a lawyer with deep grassroots conflict resolution experience.

Throughout the week, participants will engage in role plays, real-life case studies, negotiation simulations, and introspective learning to understand the causes, consequences, and potential remedies of conflict both personal and communal.

For many of them, this is more than a workshop; it is a mission.

“It’s not just about resolving disputes,” said one participant, a traditional chief from the Ahafo Region. “It’s about restoring peace in homes, churches, markets, and villages where the real Ghana lives.”

The Catholic University’s decision to host this initiative is no coincidence. As an academic institution grounded in Catholic social teaching, it views peace building as a civic and spiritual duty. Through the MCRC, the university is nurturing a new generation of mediators and peace builders who will return to their communities equipped not with court summons, but with listening ears and reconciling hearts.

In an era where division often dominates headlines, this quiet revolution in Fiapre may just be the kind of news Ghana needs — not just for the week, but for the future.

By Adam Siaka
Broadcast Journalist
Wisdom FM, CUG

 

 

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