Twenty legal literacy volunteers (LLVs) from 10 selected communities in the South Dayi district of the Volta region have been trained and equipped by Women in Law and Development in Africa, WiLDAF Ghana with support from STAR Ghana and it partners to provide alternative dispute resolution in their respective communities.
The volunteers were taken through one-week intensive training on family laws such as marriage, inheritance, children act and domestic violence.
Speaking at ceremony last month to outdoor the volunteers in Dzemeni, Madam Patricia Isabella Essel, Programmes Manager of WiLDAF Ghana in charge of Communication and Advocacy, said the rationale behind the initiative, is to improve access to justice using the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms by engaging the community members including persons with disability and the youth.
She further noted that ‘the LLVs will be holding series of community and radio programmes to sensitize community members on the various family laws’.
Madam Essel however cautioned the volunteers note to adjudicate criminal offences such as rape, defilement, illicit drug use and robbery among others, but rather refer such cases to the law court.
The South Dayi District Chief Executive, Kafui Semenu Bekui in a message delivered on his behalf entreated the volunteers not to wait for people to violate the law before they come in but they should try to educate community members on these family laws to ensure safety and security of the people.
He urged them to live exemplary lives in their communities to serve as role models to the people and also expressed appreciation to WiLDAF and its partners for the project and pledged their support towards ensuring its success.
Meanwhile, WiLDAF Ghana has also presented a desktop computer with accessories to the south Dayi district court at Peki. The donation is to aid the court in keeping records of cases and information on the court proceedings, in support of access to justice to the poor and vulnerable in society.
