GBA condemns intemprate language, Tuesday, July 3, 2012 (spread)
THE Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has condemned the increasing use of intemperate language in the country, describing it as a threat to the rule of law.
“History is replete with incidents of intemperate language that has torn nations and states apart. Let us love our country more than we disagree with one another,” the President of the GBA, Mr Frank W.K. Beechem, said at the 30th Remembrance Service for the three High Court judges and a retired Army officer who were murdered in 1982.
“Falsehood is peddled as truth; the integrity of our leaders is impugned without just cause. The President of the Republic and other officials of state are addressed and caricatured in the most disgraceful manner, our chiefs are maligned and ethnicity is given a bad bane by our careless use of language.
“We cannot and should not be complacent. Lately, there have been more pernicious threats to the rule of law. These threats manifest themselves in the abuse of our democracy, namely, the use of intemperate language,” he said.
The three judges — Mr Justice Fredrick Poku Sarkodie, Mrs Justice Cecilia Koranteng-Addow and Mr Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong — and Major Sam Acquah were abducted during curfew hours on June 30, 1982 and brutally murdered.
The bodies of the hapless persons were doused with petrol and set on fire. When the bodies were discovered, they were in a state of decomposition.
An enquiry into the murder was instituted by the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).
The Special Investigations Board, under the chairmanship of Justice Samuel Azu Crabbe, made a number of findings, leading to the prosecution of Joachim Amartey Kwei, a member of the PNDC; Lance Corporal Samuel Amedeka, Samuel M. Senyah, Johnny Dzandu and Tekpor, all ex-soldiers.
According to Mr Beechem, while the assault on the rule of law had not and would never manifest itself in the macabre circumstances the nation reminded itself during the remembrance of that heinous crime, Ghanaians must not be complacent.
“May the death of these judges and the Army officer lead us to avoid the use of intemperate language and let us respect, uphold and defend our Constitution and its institutions,” Mr Beechem said.
In an eulogy in memory of the departed members of the bench, he said: “You have performed your duty as judges without fear or favour. You stood for the rule of law. But your assassins hated what you stood for and murdered you.
“Judges, magistrates and lawyers will continue to draw inspiration from your lives. We shall continue to draw inspiration from the bold and courageous manner in which you administered justice in those challenging times.”
In a sermon, the President of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Rev Dr J.O.Y. Mante, said the country must rise ”from crippling situations of corruption, bad judgement debts, procedural negligence and laziness in our judicial system, poor economic leadership and bad politicking among our various political parties”.
“We do not want violence during this election year. May Ghana rise above this level of verbal and political violence and rather soar on the eagle’s wings of spiritual prosperity,” he said.
Among the personalities who graced the service, held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Accra, were the Deputy Attorney-General, Mr Ebo Barton-Odro; three justices of the Supreme Court, namely, Sophia Akuffo, Jones Dotse and Baffoe Bonnie, and the Judicial Secretary, Mr Justice Alex Opoku Acheampong
A number of High Court judges, former presidents of the GBA and senior members of the Bar were at the occasion.
“History is replete with incidents of intemperate language that has torn nations and states apart. Let us love our country more than we disagree with one another,” the President of the GBA, Mr Frank W.K. Beechem, said at the 30th Remembrance Service for the three High Court judges and a retired Army officer who were murdered in 1982.
“Falsehood is peddled as truth; the integrity of our leaders is impugned without just cause. The President of the Republic and other officials of state are addressed and caricatured in the most disgraceful manner, our chiefs are maligned and ethnicity is given a bad bane by our careless use of language.
“We cannot and should not be complacent. Lately, there have been more pernicious threats to the rule of law. These threats manifest themselves in the abuse of our democracy, namely, the use of intemperate language,” he said.
The three judges — Mr Justice Fredrick Poku Sarkodie, Mrs Justice Cecilia Koranteng-Addow and Mr Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong — and Major Sam Acquah were abducted during curfew hours on June 30, 1982 and brutally murdered.
The bodies of the hapless persons were doused with petrol and set on fire. When the bodies were discovered, they were in a state of decomposition.
An enquiry into the murder was instituted by the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).
The Special Investigations Board, under the chairmanship of Justice Samuel Azu Crabbe, made a number of findings, leading to the prosecution of Joachim Amartey Kwei, a member of the PNDC; Lance Corporal Samuel Amedeka, Samuel M. Senyah, Johnny Dzandu and Tekpor, all ex-soldiers.
According to Mr Beechem, while the assault on the rule of law had not and would never manifest itself in the macabre circumstances the nation reminded itself during the remembrance of that heinous crime, Ghanaians must not be complacent.
“May the death of these judges and the Army officer lead us to avoid the use of intemperate language and let us respect, uphold and defend our Constitution and its institutions,” Mr Beechem said.
In an eulogy in memory of the departed members of the bench, he said: “You have performed your duty as judges without fear or favour. You stood for the rule of law. But your assassins hated what you stood for and murdered you.
“Judges, magistrates and lawyers will continue to draw inspiration from your lives. We shall continue to draw inspiration from the bold and courageous manner in which you administered justice in those challenging times.”
In a sermon, the President of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Rev Dr J.O.Y. Mante, said the country must rise ”from crippling situations of corruption, bad judgement debts, procedural negligence and laziness in our judicial system, poor economic leadership and bad politicking among our various political parties”.
“We do not want violence during this election year. May Ghana rise above this level of verbal and political violence and rather soar on the eagle’s wings of spiritual prosperity,” he said.
Among the personalities who graced the service, held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Accra, were the Deputy Attorney-General, Mr Ebo Barton-Odro; three justices of the Supreme Court, namely, Sophia Akuffo, Jones Dotse and Baffoe Bonnie, and the Judicial Secretary, Mr Justice Alex Opoku Acheampong
A number of High Court judges, former presidents of the GBA and senior members of the Bar were at the occasion.
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