The Bench, Bar are our only hope
– Moderator calls for integrity at Martyrs’ Day Remembrance Service
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, has delivered a solemn and uncompromising message at the 44th Anniversary Remembrance Service for the three murdered High Court Justices, calling on Ghana’s Bench and Bar to uphold truth, courage, and integrity in the face of rising injustice and social disorder.
Preaching on the theme “Honour God with Your Heart and Lips,” the Moderator reminded the nation that the three judges—Justice Fred Poku Sarkodee, Justice Cecilia Koranteng‑Addow, and Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong—were murdered on 30th June 1982 because they carried out their duties with honour and dignity.
He described the judiciary as “our only hope” at a time when the nation is on a sharp decline into chaos. Drawing from 1 Samuel 26:17–21 and 2 Timothy 4:6–8, he compared the final reflections of two men—Saul and Paul. He noted that Saul, Israel’s first king, was given a new heart, prophetic gifts, victories, and divine opportunities, yet ended his life confessing, “I have acted foolishly,” recognising too late that he had wasted what God entrusted to him.
In contrast, Paul, who was also blessed with gifts and given Timothy to mentor just as Saul was given David, ended his life declaring, “I have fought the good fight.” The Moderator posed a piercing question to the legal fraternity: “When the end comes, what will be the conclusion of your life—whether as a lawyer or as a justice of the land? Will you say you have fought a good fight, or will you say you acted foolishly?”
He warned that remembrance services become empty rituals if the nation continues to tolerate injustice. He cautioned that Ghana cannot claim to honour the martyrs while judgments are coloured by partisan interests, justice is served to the highest bidder, and lawyers connive to defraud their clients.
He stated that the nation cannot continue to hold remembrance services and remain silent and indifferent in the face of injustice and social disorder, insisting that such silence means honouring God with lips while hearts remain far from Him.
The Moderator urged the Bench and Bar to resist the temptation to remain quiet when justice is threatened. “Today one lawyer or judge may benefit from your complicity of silence, but the injustice will continue. If you fail to speak for others, a time will come when there will be no one to speak for us.”
He called on the nation to ensure that the deaths of the three judges represent something meaningful, urging all present to honour God not only with words but with conviction, courage, and integrity. He ended with a prayer that Ghana’s legal community will uphold the dignity of justice and defend the vulnerable, ensuring that the sacrifice of the three murdered judges continues to inspire righteousness and national conscience.
By: Jerome Otchere
