Accra, June 27, GNA - A wreath laying ceremony was held at the Forecourt of the Supreme Court in Accra on Monday in memory of the three High Court Judges who were murdered on June 30, 1982. The murdered judges were Mr Justice Frederick Poku Sarkodie, Mr Justice Kwadjo Agyei Agyapong and Mrs Justice Cecilia Koranteng-Addow. The ceremony marked the commencement of the Martyrs' Day celebration and the 23rd remembrance anniversary of the murdered Judges.

President John Agyekum Kufuor laid the first wreath on behalf of the State and Executive while Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, Speaker of Parliament, laid one for the Legislature. The Chief Justice, Mr Justice George Kingsley Acquah laid one for the Judiciary and Mr William Blair, a visiting professor of law at the London School of Economics as well as the Special Guest for the celebrations laid one for the International Community.

Mr Kawmi Tetteh, President of Ghana Bar Association (GBA), laid one on behalf of the Bar, Nii Adote Obuor II, Sempe Mantse and Acting Ga Mantse laid one on behalf of Traditional Leaders and Ms Marian Sarkodie, daughter of late Justice Sarkodie, laid one on behalf of the families of the slain Judges.

In attendance were members of the Diplomatic Corps, Justices of the Superior Courts, the Clergy and Traditional Rulers. In the curfew hours of June 30, 1982, soldiers abducted the three High Court Judges and a Military Officer, Major Sam Acquah (rtd) from their homes and murdered. Their charred bodies were found at the Bundase Military Range on the Accra Plains. The GBA instituted annual remembrance activities in honour of their slain colleagues. Last year, the Judicial Service erected the busts of the three Judges at the Forecourt of the Supreme Court to their memory.