The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has said the killing of the Upper East regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Adams Mahama is “a blight on Ghana’s democratic credentials.”

Mahama was acid-attacked on Wednesday and died at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital Thursday.

The umbrella body of lawyers in Ghana has condemned the act, saying the constitution of Ghana makes room for divergent view without recourse to violence.

Below is the full statement of the GBA:

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has learnt with shock, dismay and abhorrence the sudden death of the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party – Mr. Adams Mahama as a result of an acid attack by unknown assailants.

The GBA expresses it deep condolences to the bereaved family and prays that the good Lord will bear them up to come to terms with the great and untimely loss of their dear beloved family member.

The GBA views the attack as a very serious blight on Ghana’s democratic credentials as our constitution recognises as a fundamental right the individual’s freedom of thought, conscience and belief and disagreement is a core ingredient in the rule of law and democracy.

Indeed there is more than enough space under the canopy of our democratic experiment for divergent views and it is most despicable and unacceptable that such an incident should occur at a time when Ghana is touted as a beacon of African democracy.

The GBA calls on the law enforcement agencies as a matter of urgency to investigate and bring the perpetrators of this dastardly and cowardly act to book.

It is further hoped that Judiciary would also lend its support in dealing swiftly with any persons implicated in this cruel act to serve as a deterrent to other persons with similar inclinations to engage in such barbaric and criminal acts.

The GBA calls on the leaders and supporters of all political parties to exercise maximum restraint in all cases and to remember that the quest to rule our dear nation is a contest of ideas and that the individual’s right to life is inviolable.

DATED AT THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT

SGD: Nene Abayateye Amegatcher

National President

SGD: Justin Agbeli Amenuvor

National Secretary