Whilst
efforts
are
being
made
to
address
the
issue
of
access
to
justice,
a
critical
issue
remains
which
require
continuing
attention
–
the
cost
of
initiating
court
proceedings.
Stakeholders
contend
that
many
people
cannot
afford
to
pay
for
legal
advice
or
representation.
There
are
no
Citizens’
Advice
Centres
in
Ghana,
and
the
hourly
rate
for
a
senior
counsel
is
USD
300,
and
for
a
junior
counsel,
USD150.
Even
though
the
Constitution
contains
provisions
that
grant
the
poor
legal
aid,
and
its
being
effected
through
the
Ghana
Legal
Aid
Scheme
(GLAS),
a
key
challenge
has
been
the
inadequate
provision
of
resources.
Ghana
has
set
up
a
Legal
Aid
Scheme
as
a
requirement
of
the
1992
Constitution
to
ensure
the
inclusion
of
the
poor
in
the
justice
delivery
system
and
legal
defense
of
the
Constitution.
The
mandatory
requirements
for
legal
aid
led
Parliament
to
enact
the
Legal
Aid
Scheme
Act,
1997.
Through
government
subvention
and
assistance
for
development
partners,
the
Scheme
assisted
in
the
resolution
of
about
5,000
cases
in
2008.
3.10.1
Low
public
confidence
in
the
justice
system
The
Judicial
Service
has
made
efforts
to
mainstream
Alternative
Dispute
Resolution
(ADR)
procedures
in
order
to
enhance
access
to
justice
in
the
country.
Mediators
have
been
trained
throughout
the
country
to
implement
ADR
and
mediation
desks
have
been
established
in
some
district
courts.
An
ADR
Secretariat
has
been
established
within
the
Judicial
Service.
Commercial
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