Eastern Region: GBA and Judicial Service celebrate 41st Martyrs’Day

The Eastern Regional Branch of the Ghana Bar Association and the Judicial Service has celebrated its 41st Martyrs’ Day at the Ascension Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Koforidua.

The celebration was to commemorate the gruesome murder of the three high court judges namely Justice Fred Poku Sakodie, Cecilia Koranteng Addo and Justice Kwadwo Adjei Agyapong who were abducted from their respective homes in Accra on June 30, 1982 and murdered at the Bundase Military Range in the Accra Plains.

A solemn ceremony was organised at the premises of the church and wreaths were laid in after the service in memory of the murdered judges.

In an address during the ceremony, the Eastern Regional President of the Ghana Bar Association, Mr Francis Polley said the Bar and Bench would continue to mourn the death martyrs of the rule of law who had died in their line of duty.

“In response to the call for reconciliation by the National Reconciliation Commission and the Biblical injunction that we should forgive those who trespass against us, we have forgiven the wrong doers for their cowardly and evil deeds. However, we still remember these martyrs of the rule of law and we will continue to celebrate them,” he said.

He said the Bar and the Bench acknowledged and proclaimed the good qualities they possessed in their line of work for which they were murdered.

“The Bar and bench and the good people of Ghana salute you, you died in the line of duty and performed duties as judges without fear and favour and stood for the rule of law for which they could not eliminate,” he added.

He therefore called on judges, the Bar and Bench in the country to continue the legacy of the three deceased judges and be bold in executing their mandate without fear and favour and continue to stand for the rule of law and justice for humanity.

In a sermon preached at the ceremony, the District Minister in charge of the Koforidua and Minister of Ascension Presbyterian Church, Rev Justice Kwame Asumeng called on judges and members of the Bar association to execute their work soberly and decide impartially when settling cases.

That, he said backed by courage would cause nobody to trample on them, adding that “the nation today and the next generation depends on you and it is my prayer that God should give you what it takes to stand for the truth always.”

In attendance was the Eastern Regional Minister,Seth Kwame Acheampong, Municipal Chief Executives for New Juaben South and North, Mr Isaac Appaw-Gyasi and Mrs Comfort Asante and other important dignitaries.

From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua