Martyrs' Day: Lawyers to Abstain from Courts as Acting Chief Justice Grants Permission

Jun 30, 2025 - 00:29

Jun 30, 2025 - 00:44

Martyrs' Day: Lawyers to Abstain from Courts as Acting Chief Justice Grants Permission

Accra, Ghana - 30 June, 2025 - Ghana's Judiciary is set to observe Martyrs' Day on June 30, 2025, a somber occasion that commemorates the lives of three High Court judges and a military officer brutally murdered in 1982. To facilitate the commemoration, Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has granted members of the Ghana Bar Association permission to abstain from court appearances on the day.

The annual observance honors the memory of Justices Fred Poku Sarkodee, Cecilia Koranteng-Addow, Kwadwo Agyei Agyapong, and Major Sam Acquah, who were abducted and killed on June 30, 1982. The incident remains one of the darkest chapters in Ghana's history, highlighting the importance of protecting the independence of the judiciary and promoting justice and accountability.

In a circular issued to judges and magistrates nationwide, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie cited the long-standing tradition of allowing legal practitioners to participate in the solemn national event.

“In conformity with tradition, approval has been granted for members of the Ghana Bar Association to withdraw their services from court appearances on Monday, 30th June 2025',, portions of the circular read.

Read the circular below;