President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo joined the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the Judicial Service at the Ridge Church in Accra to celebrate the 39th anniversary of the murder of the three High Court Judges.
The three High Court judges, Justice Fred Poku Sarkodie, Justice Cecilia Koranteng-Addow, Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong and Major Sam Acquah, a retired military officer were abducted on the evening of June 30, 1982, and brutally murdered at the Bundase Military Range in the Accra Plains.
The three Justices are remembered in an annual judicial service on their deaths, called Martyrs Day.
Their busts have been erected at the Forecourt of the Supreme Court Building in Accra known as the ‘Martyrs of the Rule of Law’.
At the solemn ceremony were the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, and the President of GBA, Anthony Forson, Jnr.
Other Justices of the Supreme Court who were at the ceremony include Justice Jones Dotse, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Justice Samuel Marful-Sau, Justice Nene A.O Amegatcher, Justice Mariama Owusu, Justice Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, and Justice Yonny Kulendi, all Justices of the Supreme Court
Justices of the Appeals Court, High Court, past and current executives of the GBA, and families of the deceased judges were there at the celebration.
The GBA President said the three judges stood for the rule of law and performed their duties as judges without fear or favour and added that Judges, magistrates and lawyers would continue to draw inspiration from the bold and courageous manner with which they administered justice in those challenging times.
Mr Forson used the occasion to raise concerns about allegations of corruption in the police service.
“The general ambience in our police stations is worrying. There may be some very fine, knowledgeable and respected senior officers in the service but for some reason, this refinement does not percolate down to those who interface with the citizenry on a daily basis.”
“Let us have a serious look at the qualification of the personnel who are recruited into the Police Service and improve the quality of the service rendered in return for our taxes,” he said.
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD
