The President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Efua Ghartey, has called for the judiciary to be insulated from all forms of interference to enable judges to administer justice fairly, impartially and independently.
She said an independent judiciary remained the hope of all who sought justice and therefore the judiciary must be fiercely protected to preserve the rule of law and uphold public confidence in the administration of justice.
Mrs Ghartey made the call at the 44th Martyrs Day Remembrance Service organised by the Ghana Bar Association in collaboration with the Judicial Service at the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) Christ Temple East, Teshie, yesterday in honour of the late Justice Fred Poku Sarkodie, Justice Cecilia Koranteng-Addow and Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong, who were abducted and murdered on June 30, 1982, together with retired Army Officer, Major Sam Acquah.
The annual service was attended by the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie; former Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo; former Attorney-General, Godfred Dame; justices of the superior courts, lawyers, members of the clergy, relatives of the murdered judges and other dignitaries.
Protect judiciary
Mrs Ghartey said the annual remembrance was intended not only to honour the memories of the murdered judges but also to remind Ghanaians of the need to jealously guard the independence of the judiciary.
She said judges should be allowed to perform their constitutional and judicial functions peacefully, fairly, impartially and independently without undue influence.
Some members of the Bench and GBA with dignitaries after the remembrance service in the Volta Region
"An independent judiciary, in its true sense, is a hope for all who seek justice and should be fiercely protected.
The judiciary's foremost attraction should be its glaring independent nature, credibility and transparency," she said.
Mrs Ghartey said although decisions had been delivered on recent judicial matters, the association maintained its position that clear rules should govern constitutional processes affecting judges to ensure fairness and public confidence.
She further urged judges to continue administering justice without fear or favour.
Ms Ghartey also called on Ghanaians to reject acts that divided the nation and instead work together to strengthen democracy, the rule of law and national unity.
Honour
Delivering the sermon, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt Rev. Dr Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, urged judges, lawyers and all public office holders to honour God not only with their words but also through lives of integrity, courage and justice.
Recalling the events of June 30, 1982, he said the three judges were murdered simply because they discharged their duties honourably and courageously.
"They were murdered simply because they did their job with honour, with courage and dignity," he said, urging Ghanaians to continue to declare, "Never again."
The Moderator said the annual remembrance would lose its significance if the country continued to tolerate injustice, corruption, political interference and disregard for due process.
"We cannot continue to hold remembrance services if judgments that are served in our courts are coloured with partisan politics.
"We cannot continue to hold remembrance services when we serve justice to the highest bidder in our nation," he said.
He described the judiciary and the Bar as the nation's "last hope", urging them to remain steadfast in defending justice.
Legacy courage
Rt Rev. Dr Kwakye said the murdered judges left behind enduring examples of courage, fairness and integrity, and challenged members of the legal profession to preserve those values for future generations.
He urged judges and lawyers to serve with dignity, fairness and courage so that at the end of their careers, they could truthfully say they had "fought the good fight" and "kept the faith".
Members of the Volta/Oti branch of the Ghana Bar Association also took part in the remembrance at the Paradise International Church at Ho-Dome.
The Regional President of the GBA, Moses Ayine Asampoa, also said that although the pain of the death of the judges still lingered, the members of the bar had forgiven the wrongdoers for their cowardly and evil deeds.
“But we still remember these martyrs of the rule of law and will continue to celebrate them; the Bar and Bench acknowledge and proclaim those good qualities and deeds for which they were murdered,” he added.
The Supervising High Court Judge in the Volta Region, Justice Stephen Kumi, also entreated members of the Bar and Bench to continue to perform their duties fearlessly, with diligence, and utmost integrity.
