The Centre for Citizens Empowerment (CCE) has been officially re-launched with a renewed mandate to support vulnerable Ghanaians who are unable to afford legal services.
The ceremony, held under the theme: “Justice and Dignity for All – Empowering the Poor through Access to Justice,” brought together mediators, lawyers, civil society actors and members of the public.
Addressing the gathering, President of CCE, Alex Nartey, Esq., said the re-launch represents a “renewal of hope” for the many Ghanaians who continue to face injustice due to financial constraints or a lack of knowledge about their rights.
Mr. Alex Nartey highlighted the everyday struggles of citizens who suffer abuses at their workplaces, in their homes, or even in public spaces, yet remain silent because they cannot afford legal representation.
He noted that the complexity and cost of seeking justice continue to discourage many from pursuing redress.
“Justice must never be the privilege of the rich; it must be the right of all,” he said, stressing that CCE was founded on the conviction that every Ghanaian deserves equal access to justice regardless of social or economic status.
As part of its mandate, the Centre will prioritise Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as its first line of intervention.
Through a partnership with the Ghana National Association of ADR Practitioners (GNAAP), trained mediators will volunteer their expertise to help resolve disputes ranging from family and community conflicts to workplace and business disagreements.
Mr. Alex Nartey added that not all conflicts needed to go to court, and ADR provides a quicker, more peaceful, and less costly option for resolving disagreements.
However, in cases requiring litigation, CCE has enlisted the support of legal practitioners who will dedicate one day each week to offer free or heavily discounted services to disadvantaged citizens.
He described this as a collaborative effort to complement the work of the Legal Aid Commission in deepening access to justice across the country.
The CCE President noted that the re-launch comes at a time when many Ghanaians face rising living costs, widening inequality, and increasing vulnerability to eviction, workplace exploitation, and domestic abuse.
He described the Centre as a “bridge” that connects the poor to justice and restores dignity to the marginalised.
To individuals experiencing injustice but unable to afford legal help, he assured: “You are not alone. Our doors are open to you.”
Mr. Alex Nartey also called on lawyers, mediators, advocates, and social workers to volunteer their skills, and appealed to donors and partners for financial and logistical support to sustain the Centre’s work.
He reiterated CCE’s commitment to building a society where the powerless are protected: “The measure of any just society is not how it treats the powerful, but how it protects the powerless.”
The Centre for Citizens Empowerment is expected to roll out community education programmes, expand its mediation services, and strengthen its legal support network in the coming months.
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