GBA calls for fresh investigation into Judges' murder

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) on Sunday called on the government to act on demands for fresh investigation and the prosecution of those responsible for the murder of the three High Court Judges and the retired Army Officer on 30 June 30 1982.

Mr. Paul Adu Gyamfi (in picture), President of the GBA in making the call, expressed confidence that the Attorney General, "in this era of reconciliation," would authorise further and thorough investigations of all available evidence to ensure that no one linked, in whatever manner, to this heinous crime escaped the full rigours of the law.

''This will let the nation know once and for all, the full truth of this grisly deed, and finally the lingering suspicions, questions and doubts.'' Mr. Adu Gyamfi was speaking at the 20th Anniversary Remembrance Service for the three murdered Justices of High Court and the Army Officer at the Police Church in Accra. The murdered High Court Judges were Mrs Justice Koranteng-Addow, Mr. Justice Kwadwo Agyei-Agyepong and Mr. Justice Fred Poku Sarkodee.

In attendance at the solemn ceremony, were among other dignitaries, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey, the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Edward Kwame Wiredu, the Attorney General, Nana Akufo Addo, Members of the GBA, Judges of the Supreme Court, Rev. Aboagye Mensah, General Secretary of the Christian Council and members of the bereaved families.

The Biographies of the three murdered Judges, were read by Mr. Justice Amonoo Monney, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood and Mr. Justice S.A. Brobbey, all Judges of the Appeal Court.

Mr. Adu Gyamfi said statements by Mr. Kwabena Agyepong, son of one of the murdered Judges, now the government's spokesman and by sections of the media cast grave doubts on the reliability of the account of the investigations.

He said new evidence had been offered which sharply called into question the credibility of the Special Investigation Board (SIB) and the validity of some of its findings published along with a Government white Paper.

Mr. Adu Gyamfi said the Board made a number of findings, implicating two members of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and the Special Advisor to the PNDC in the crime, characterising the Special Advisor as allegedly the mastermind behind the crime.

''The findings against the Special Advisor was rejected by the then Attorney General in the White Paper'' he said adding, some of those implicated were then prosecuted, found guilty, sentenced to death and executed. ?One of the un-indicted co-conspirators, Corporal S.K. Amedeka, was allowed to escape from jail and to flee the country.''

He said all facts at their disposal however, left little doubt that the crime of which the three High Court Judges were adjudged guilty by their captors and for which they were made to pay, was their singular and unswerving dedication to the rule of law and the impartial administration of justice.

Mr. Adu Gyamfi said it was a tragic irony that while they kept faith with their judicial oaths by doing justice to all manner of person, they themselves were not accorded any trial, which was a fundamental human right.

The GBA would forever commend and hold in high esteem judicial courage, honesty, fairness, and the rule of law without which the nation could know no real peace. ''Our departed colleagues died in the line of duty to their nation, to their countrymen and women and to the rule of law. We salute them as martyrs to the rule of law.''

Professor Emeritus, The Most Reverend Kwesi A. Dickson, President of All Africa Conference of Churches in a sermon said, "a society which is polarised, characterised by grave disparities, stands a fair chance of experiencing such tensions as could tear it apart."

Violence, he said was more likely to flourish in a society where the state of oneness was in doubt. Rev. Dickson said since the attainment of independence, the country had known the kind of politics that made the ruling party a privileged group with many in the society bowing to them endlessly.

He said the nation's efforts at improving living standards would be in vain unless these were geared towards the creation of a society in equilibrium, one in which each recognised a responsibility for the good of all especially those not so well endowed.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo in an interview with newsmen said all the issues raised by the GBA would be taken care of by the National Reconciliation Commission, adding that the government would act on its recommendations.