Ghana Emerges as Strategic Hub for Global ADR Training as CIMA Inducts New Professionals
Ghana’s growing relevance in global legal and conflict resolution spaces was underscored over the weekend, as the Center for International Mediators and Arbitrators (CIMA), England and Wales, in partnership with the Oxfordshire–Africa Forum on International Arbitration, held a high-level induction and graduation ceremony at the British Council, Accra.
The event, which saw 46 professionals from diverse fields awarded certifications—12 as Fellows, 8 Full Members, and 26 Associate Members—marked a pivotal moment not just for the graduands, but for Ghana’s stature in the realm of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
Delivering the keynote address, His Lordship Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, Justice of the Court of Appeal, described the ceremony as a launchpad for a new generation of ADR professionals. He emphasized that CIMA’s reach now spans Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, and that its training programs are increasingly recognized for their rigor and global orientation.
“The world needs professionals who can engage with cultural, legal, and developmental challenges not with confrontation, but with fairness and insight,” Justice Kyei Baffour noted. He lauded CIMA for offering a platform for specialization, particularly critical in a time when Africa grapples with justice and security challenges amid vast but underutilized human potential.
Also speaking was Francesco Campagna, FCIMArb and President of CIMA, who joined virtually from Palermo, Italy, extending congratulations to the inductees and welcoming them into a worldwide network of ADR professionals.
The gathering brought together a distinguished lineup of dignitaries including Dr Michael Owusu, Deputy CEO of KGL; Mr Ziad Hamoui, President of Tarzan; Ms Georgette Francois, Chairperson of the Ghana Association of Certified Mediators and Arbitrators; and Dr Osei Bonsu Dickson, FCIMArb and Vice-President of CIMA, who invited Ghanaians to enroll in CIMA’s upcoming Summer School (August) and Winter Academy (December).
Representing the graduating cohort, H.R.H. Ambassador Dr. Abdul-Salam Yussif II delivered a passionate address: “We have not merely received certificates; we have accepted a noble calling—to resolve disputes with dignity and to contribute meaningfully to the dynamic field of ADR.”
The event was a convergence of tradition, law, and diplomacy, attended by leaders from the Ghana Bar Association, traditional rulers, Muslim clerics, legal professionals, and proud families.
More than a ceremony, the occasion underscored Ghana’s rising profile as a continental gateway for ADR expertise, with CIMA shaping a cadre of principled, globally-minded professionals poised to lead conflict resolution efforts across borders.
