Regional News of Monday, 2 July 2007

Source: GNA

Lawyers/Judges in Western Region remembers slain colleagues

Takoradi, July 2, GNA- Reverend Thomas E. Ansah, Minister in Charge of the Christ the King Methodist Church at Takoradi, has called on lawyers and judges to ensure fairness and justice to guarantee peace, unity and prosperity in the country.

He said, "Let each person receive what is due him and no one should use clandestine means to achieve his desires."

Rev. Ansah was speaking at the 25th anniversary remembrance service organised by the Western Regional branch of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) for the three high court judges who were abducted and murdered in 1982, together with Major (rtd) Sam Acquah, in Takoradi.

The judges were Mr. Justice Fred Poku-Sarkodie, Mrs. Justice Cecilia Koranteng-Addow and Mr. Justice Kwadwo Agyei-Agyapong. He said it would be wrong for Ghanaians to discriminate in the dispensation of justice adding "you must forgive unconditionally and not re-pay evil for evil and urged all who have been wronged to forgive and move on.

Rev. Ansah asked Christians to pray for criminals and other people who have taken the law into their own hands.

He noted that instant justice and assassination and other forms of injustices created an atmosphere of insecurity, suspicion and fear. Rev. Ansah therefore, charged lawyers and judges to work hard to improve the society adding that cheating, humiliation and abuse should not compel one to take the law into his or her hand.

Mr. Emmanuel K. Arthur, President of the Western Regional Bar Association, said the remembrance service was meant to remind lawyers and judges of their duties and the consequences that the three high court judges had to endure in their line of duty. He said the judges were devoted to duty and sacrificed their lives in the interest of the country.

The GBA later donated three million cedis towards ongoing projects of the Church. 2 July 07