The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt Rev Dr Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, has strongly condemned corruption, political interference and the alleged manipulation of justice within Ghana’s judicial system.
He warned that the country risks descending into lawlessness and social disorder if judges, lawyers, politicians and citizens fail to defend justice, fairness and the rule of law.
Rt Rev Dr Kwakye made the remarks while delivering a sermon at the 44th Martyrs’ Day Remembrance Service held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the International Central Gospel Church’s Christ Temple East in Teshie, Accra. The annual service was organised by the Ghana Bar Association in collaboration with the Judiciary.
Speaking before members of the Bench, the Bar, state officials, religious leaders and relatives of the murdered judges, the Moderator expressed concern about the perception that some court decisions may be influenced by political interests.
“If judgments that are served in our courts are coloured with partisan politics because some politicians want us to do so for them, we cannot continue,” he stated.
Justice Must Not Go to the Highest Bidder
Rt Rev Dr Kwakye said the Judiciary could not effectively honour the memories of the murdered judges while tolerating corruption, injustice or the sale of justice to people with money and political influence.
“We cannot continue to hold remembrance services for these wonderful men and women when we serve justice to the highest bidder in our nation,” he emphasised.
According to him, the annual commemoration would lose its significance if those entrusted with the administration of justice failed to demonstrate the courage, impartiality and integrity for which the slain judges were remembered.
He urged judges and lawyers to ensure that justice was administered without fear, favour, political pressure or financial inducement.
The Moderator reminded members of the legal profession that their actions and decisions would ultimately be judged by future generations.
He questioned whether the present generation was prepared to leave behind a legacy of corruption, nepotism and carelessness or one founded on justice, courage and genuine human values.
Ghana on a “Sharp Decline into Chaos”
Rt Rev Dr Kwakye described Ghana as being on a “sharp decline into chaos,” warning that continued silence in the face of corruption and injustice could have serious consequences for the country.
He said citizens should not remain indifferent when the justice system was allegedly being undermined by political interference, corruption or professional misconduct.
According to him, individuals may temporarily benefit from an unjust system, but its consequences could eventually affect every section of society.
He stressed that injustice tolerated against one person could ultimately threaten the rights and freedoms of all citizens.
The Moderator described the Judiciary and the Ghana Bar Association as among the country’s remaining sources of hope, particularly at a time when public confidence in several state institutions was declining.
“If you fail us, then we have no hope,” he told members of the Bench and Bar, urging them to uphold truth, fairness, empathy, courage and integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Lawyers Also Cautioned Against Misconduct
The Presbyterian Church Moderator did not limit his criticism to judges and politicians.
He also cautioned lawyers against colluding with other individuals to deceive or defraud their clients, arguing that such conduct represented a betrayal of the values defended by the murdered judges.
He urged legal practitioners to avoid using their professional knowledge to exploit vulnerable clients or frustrate the delivery of justice.
Rt Rev Dr Kwakye maintained that lawyers and judges had a responsibility to protect the credibility of Ghana’s justice system and restore public confidence in the legal profession.
He said the integrity of the courts depended not only on the independence of judges but also on the ethical behaviour of lawyers, court officials, political leaders and other stakeholders within the justice system.
Worship Without Justice Is Meaningless
The Moderator also criticised what he described as the contradiction between public displays of religion and the continued tolerance of corruption and injustice.
“We honour God with our lips and yet our hearts are far from Him, so we cannot continue to hold the remembrance services,” he stressed.
According to him, religious ceremonies, prayers and national commemorations become empty rituals when participants fail to practise the values they publicly proclaim.
He said genuine worship must be reflected in honesty, justice, compassion and the fair treatment of others.
Rt Rev Dr Kwakye urged Ghanaians to move beyond symbolic religious observances and demonstrate their faith through their conduct in public and professional life.
His sermon, delivered under the theme “Honouring God with Your Heart,” called on members of the legal profession to combine their religious commitments with a practical dedication to justice and integrity.
GBA Calls for an Independent Judiciary
President of the Ghana Bar Association, Efua Ghartey, also used the occasion to call for the protection of the Judiciary from political and other forms of interference.
She urged judges to remain firm and administer justice impartially to every person who appeared before the courts.
According to her, safeguarding the independence of the Judiciary was essential to maintaining national unity, protecting constitutional democracy and preserving confidence in the rule of law.
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie and other senior members of the Judiciary and legal profession participated in the service, alongside relatives of the murdered judges, students, parliamentarians and former public officials.
Remembering the Martyrs of the Rule of Law
Martyrs’ Day is observed annually on June 30 to honour three High Court judges—Justice Fred Poku Sarkodie, Justice Cecilia Koranteng-Addow and Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong—as well as retired military officer Major Sam Acquah.
The four were abducted during a nighttime curfew on June 30, 1982, and taken to the Bundase Military Range in the Accra Plains, where they were murdered.
Their bodies were reportedly doused with petrol and set ablaze in one of the darkest episodes in Ghana’s political and judicial history.
The annual remembrance service provides an opportunity for members of the Judiciary, the Ghana Bar Association, religious organisations and the wider public to reflect on the importance of judicial independence and the rule of law.
It also serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by political intimidation, attacks on judges and interference in the administration of justice.
A Call to Protect the Rule of Law
Rt Rev Dr Kwakye urged judges and lawyers to draw inspiration from the bravery and impartiality demonstrated by the murdered judges.
He said the most meaningful way to honour their memory was not merely through annual ceremonies but by ensuring that every person who appeared before the courts received fair and impartial justice.
The Moderator maintained that Ghana’s democratic stability depended heavily on a Judiciary that was independent, courageous and resistant to political and financial pressure.
His remarks have renewed public discussion about corruption, political influence and declining confidence in state institutions.
They also place renewed responsibility on the Judiciary, the Ghana Bar Association, political leaders and citizens to protect the rule of law and ensure that justice is never determined by wealth, political affiliation or social status.
Source: Kwabena Danso-Dapaah
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