The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has described the violence that marred the recently held Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election as a threat to the rule of law and a blight on Ghana’s democratic credentials.

In a statement, the Association called on government and the security agencies to probe the violence and bring perpetrators to book.

Heavily armed National Security operatives shot and wounded several members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the private residence of the NDC’s candidate about an hour into the by-election on Thursday, 31 January 2019.

Reacting to the violence, the GBA in a statement said: “The Ghana Bar Association views the use of firearms and acts of violence in a constituency where a by-election was being held as a serious blight on Ghana’s democratic credentials and a threat to the rule of law.”

The Bar said it finds it alarming and shameful that people should sustain gunshot wounds and others, including a member of Ghana’s legislative arm of government be assaulted by persons some of whom were masked.

The Association said it condemns in no uncertain terms the action of the perpetrators and called on law enforcement agencies to ensure that the culprits are duly charged and prosecuted.