Some 24 persons who were injured in the violence that characterised the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election have sued government for unlawful assault, abuse of human rights amongst others.
In a suit filed by one of the victims, Ishawu Yaro and on behalf of 23 others, the applicants are seeking a compensation of GHȻ250,000 be paid to each of the victims, as well as cost of legal fees catered for by government.
The applicants are also seeking a declaration by the Human Rights Court that the assaults, arrests and detentions are a violation of their fundamental human rights as enshrined in Ghana’s constitution.
The applicants were injured when violence involving some security personnel erupted during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election which took place on January 31, 2019.
The suit said the treatment meted out to Ishawu Yaro and the 23 others is an infringement on their freedom of movement and personal liberty; hence it is an abuse of their fundamental human rights.
Background to the by-election violence
On January 31, 2019, a by-election was held to elect a Member of Parliament for the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency following the demise of the MP at the time, Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko.
During the by-election, there was a confrontation between some National Security activists and some persons who were at the residence of the NDC candidate, Delali Kwasi Brempong.
This resulted in the operatives firing gunshots, wounding some people who were subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment with others taken to the police station for questioning.
Others were also abused physically when the confrontation occurred.
Following the incident, a Commission on Inquiry was set up to investigate the incident, which report has since been presented to the President, Nana Akufo-Addo.
Read: Akufo-Addo & Bawumia pick 3 to probe Ayawaso West Wuogon violence
By Irene Amesimeku|3news.com|Ghana