The Wenchi High Court has ordered the government to pay GH¢150,000 as compensation to six individuals who sustained injuries during the 2020 parliamentary election violence in the Techiman South Constituency.
The court, presided over by Justice Frederick Nawurah, ruled that the compensation was for the “violation of their right to life and infliction of psychological trauma” from being shot by state security forces.
The court further directed that the state and investigative bodies thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Justice Nawurah emphasized that the violence on December 8, 2020, which resulted in gunshot wounds to the six victims, violated their fundamental human rights. In addition to the compensation, a cost of GH¢20,000 was awarded to each of the victims.
Evidence presented in court, including video footage, demonstrated that the security officers’ use of firearms lacked reasonable justification.
The court criticized the indiscriminate firing by the state security forces, which led to injuries, and rejected the defense presented by the Attorney-General and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the force used was lawful.
