Centre for Citizens Empowerment (CCE), a civil society organisaton that seeks to empower the poor and vulnerable to assert their rights, has been re-launched in Accra.
CCE also aims at empowering people to seek redress through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and where necessary, litigation.
The re-launch of CCE which was under the theme: “Justice and Dignity for all-Empowering the people through Access to Justice,” brought together ADR Practitioners and Professionals, Lawyers, social workers and students.
Speaking at the re-launch in Accra, Mr Alex Nartey, President of CCE, said the event did not only mark a renewal of an initiative but “a renewal of hope for the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized in our society who for far too long, have stood at the fringes of justice because they cannot afford it.”
Mr Nartey, who is also a lawyer, noted that thousands of Ghanaians continued to suffer injustices at work, in families, communities and breach of rights, because they lacked the means to seek redress.
“For many, the cost of hiring a lawyer or going to court is beyond reach. For others, the long and complex nature of court process discourages them from even trying.
The result is silence in the face of wrongs- and the silence, we all know, breeds more injustice,” he noted.
Mr Nartey said CCE was relaunched because cost of living was on the rise and inequality continued to widen.
“Many are being evicted from their homes unlawfully, others are cheated in business or at work, and some are trapped in abusive relationships simply because they cannot afford to seek help,” he observed.
The President of CCE said justice should never be a privilege of the rich, it must be the right of all, adding “the measure of any just society was not how it treats the powerful, but how it protects the powerless.”
According to Mr Nartey, CCE was founded on a simple but profound conviction that “every citizen deserves equal access, regardless of their financial or social status.’
“At CCE, we believe that not every conflict must end up in court, many disputes- whether in families, communities, workplaces or between traders and customers- can be resolved through dialogue, understanding and mediation.”
Mr Nartey said that was why CCE has prioritized ADR as their first line of intervention.
He said CCE through its partnership with the Ghana National Association of ADR Practitioners (GNAAP) would have professional mediators who would volunteer their expertise to help parties reach peaceful and lasting settlements.
However, he said, where disputes required formal adjudication, CCE would work with lawyers who would graciously dedicate “one day a week” to offer free or heavily discounted legal services to those who cannot afford a lawyer.
“This is our way of complimenting the efforts of of the state, particularly the Legal Aid Commission, in promoting access to justice for all.”
He appealed to mediators, lawyers, social workers and advocates to join CCE and dedicate few hours of their time, skills and resources to change the lives of people.
“Let us join hands to make life worth living for all, and to build a Ghana where justice truly serves everyone,” he added.
GNA
