E/R Bar President calls for enhanced protection for judges, lawyers

Eastern Regional President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Francis Polley Esq., has called on the state to urgently strengthen security for judges and legal professionals across Ghana, warning of increasing threats targeting members of the judiciary.

Speaking during the 43rd Martyrs’ Day Remembrance Service at the High Court Complex in Koforidua on Monday, June 30, Polley noted that judges and lawyers are particularly vulnerable due to the nature of their work, which often involves presiding over sensitive and high-risk criminal cases.

While acknowledging the logistical challenges in providing personal security to every lawyer in the country, Polley insisted that judges and magistrates, as the visible face of justice, must be given immediate and comprehensive protection.

The Martyrs’ Day event commemorated the lives of Justices Frederick Opoku Sarkodie, Cecilia Koranteng-Addow, and Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong — High Court judges who were abducted and murdered on June 30, 1982, in what remains one of Ghana’s darkest judicial tragedies.

Also addressing the gathering, Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Awatey urged the GBA to deepen collaboration with government and civil society groups to advance access to justice and protect the integrity of the legal system.

She emphasized that safeguarding the judiciary is not only a legal imperative but a democratic one, stating, “Strong partnerships are critical in preserving justice and reinforcing the foundations of our democracy.”

The call for enhanced security comes at a time when concerns over threats to legal professionals — including intimidation and politically motivated interference — have reignited debate about the safety and independence of Ghana’s judiciary.