National President of the Ghana Bar Association, Benson Nutsukpui, has called on the government, the Judiciary, state security agencies and the citizenry to remain vigilant and cognizant of threats to the Rule of Law in the country.

Reading the “Lest We Forget,” at a memorial service in commemoration of the 36th anniversary of the three murdered justices of the High Court of Ghana, the Bar President said the Rule of Law will be meaningless if there is no access to speedy and effective justice anchored on robust and effective legal representation of persons in conflict with the law.

“Having received complaints from some lawyers about threats to their lives for defending accused persons, let me take this opportunity to reiterate that our democracy is premised on the law of rules and lawyers are critical in any effort to have these rules respected, defended and applied in the practical endeavour of administering justice,” the Bar President said.

He called on all governance institutions and stakeholders in the administration of justice to recommit themselves to the entrenchment of the Rule of Law in every facet of life in the country.

The Sermon

In his sermon, entitled, “the Day will surely give way to the Night”, with his scriptural reference taken for the book of John, Chapter 9:1 -4,

“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. [2] And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? [3] Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. [4] I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work”

Rev. Dr. George Kwapong, District Minister, Tema North of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, beseeches the National to work hard to build the country while they have life which he methaforically reffered to as “Day”, the “Night” (the day of death) will soon come when no man can work.

The Martyrs Day

The Martyrs Day which falls on the 30th of June every year is observed in remembrance of the three High Court judges and Major Acquah, whose lives were taken in the line of duty in the early days of the 1982 revolution in Ghana.

In Attendance

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo; the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; the Speaker of Parliament, Mike Aaron Ocquaye; the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo and Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo, were amongst the dignitaries who graced the Remembrance Service held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Asylum Down.

Wreath Laying Ceremony

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of the Republic, Justice Sophia Akuffo this morning joined the Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo, as well as leaders of the Ghana Bar Association and members of the Judicial Service for a wreath laying ceremony in commemoration of the 36th anniversary of the murder of the three justices of the High Court of Ghana.

The Service

The three late justices who lost their lives in the line of duty are Justice Fred Poku Sarkodee, Justice Cecilia Koranteng -Addow and Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong. The brief service for the ceremony was officiated by Reverend Professor Kwamena Sagoe, Priest Assisting at St. Augustine Anglican in Dansoman, a suburb of Accra.

Who Laid the Wreaths

The Lady Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo laid the first wreath on behalf of the Judiciary.The Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo and the National President of the Ghana Bar Association, Benson Nutsukpui laid the second wreath on behalf of the Bar and Banahene Poku Sarkodee, son of the late Justice Fred Poku Sarkodie, laid the third wreath on behalf of the bereaved families.