FACT-CHECK: Claim That Ghana Bar Association Silent on Election Violence Proven False

Ghana Bar Association’s Record of Addressing Electoral Violence Contradicts Attorney’s Claims

A private legal practitioner’s recent assertion that the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has consistently failed to speak out on election-related violence has been contradicted by substantial evidence showing the organization’s active engagement on these issues.

Thaddeus Sory, speaking on JoyPrime’s PM Express show on October 20, 2025, claimed the GBA has remained silent following incidents of electoral violence. “There is violence in election matters at Ayawaso, at Ejura and all of those places, people have lost their lives, and the bar can’t even say this is unfortunate,” Sory stated during the broadcast.

The attorney further alleged that the GBA has not called for investigations into such incidents or for perpetrators to be held accountable.

However, a comprehensive review of official statements and media reports reveals that the GBA has consistently issued public condemnations following incidents of electoral and political violence throughout Ghana in recent years.

Following the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence on January 31, 2019, the GBA released a statement on February 4 expressing “great worry and apprehension” over the incidents of shooting and assault. The association described the events as “most alarming and shameful” and “condemned in no uncertain terms the actions of the perpetrators.”

In direct contradiction to Sory’s specific reference to Ejura, the GBA issued a statement on July 8, 2021, expressing regret over “the death of two persons and injuries suffered by others following clashes between residents of Ejura and security personnel on 29th June 2021.”

The legal association’s pattern of public response to electoral violence extends beyond these incidents. In July 2020, the GBA condemned violent clashes during voter registration exercises in the Awutu Senya East and Bono Ahenkro constituencies, describing the actions as “lawless” and “totally unacceptable.”

Following the 2020 general elections, the GBA released another statement on July 8, 2021, denouncing acts of violence, including those carried out by security operatives in the Techiman South and Ablekuma Central Constituencies. The organization called on security agencies to “exercise maximum professionalism” and ensure that citizens’ rights are protected.

Most recently, in December 2024, the GBA issued a statement condemning post-election violence following the presidential and parliamentary elections, appealing “for calm and restraint as the nation transitioned into a new administration.”

The Ghana Bar Association’s public record clearly demonstrates a consistent pattern of addressing election-related violence through official statements that not only condemn the incidents but also call for investigations and accountability.

These documented responses directly contradict Sory’s assertion that the GBA has remained silent on these matters. The association has, in fact, established a clear track record of public engagement on issues of electoral violence, calling for both accountability and restraint during politically sensitive periods in Ghana.

The evidence suggests that Sory’s claim misrepresents the GBA’s public stance on electoral violence, as the organization has repeatedly used its platform to condemn such incidents and advocate for both investigations and professional conduct by security forces during electoral processes.