Former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has defended her use of pepper spray during the July 11 rerun of the Ablekuma North parliamentary elections, stating that her actions were motivated solely by self-defence and not an attempt to provoke violence.
The rerun was marred by chaos after a group of unidentified individuals reportedly overpowered security officers and launched an attack on several people at the polling centre, including the former minister.
Speaking in an interview on Accra-based UTV, Hawa Koomson rejected accusations that she went to the centre with the intention to cause mayhem.
“I was at the voting centre with my personal security, but the police said only authorised persons were allowed in, so I entered alone. I had no intention of causing trouble,” she said.
Hawa Koomson recounted that as tensions flared, she spotted two men from Kasoa—believed to be affiliated with the opposition NDC—who deliberately singled her out and launched an attack
“As soon as I got inside, I saw two NDC guys. One of them shouted, ‘Where is Hawa Koomson?’ and they rushed at me. The idea that I came there armed with pepper spray to incite violence is simply not true,” she said.
She added that her decision to use the pepper spray stemmed from a direct threat to her life.
“My son was stabbed during the voter registration period, so I know I’m a target. These men were approaching with knives. I had to defend myself,” she explained.
Videos from the incident, which have since gone viral, show the former minister reaching for the pepper spray and using it as the crowd advanced. The incident has sparked debate over the conduct of political actors and the role of security in ensuring safety during elections.
Explore all the juicy entertainment news you desire with GhanaWeekend on WhatsApp!
Click on the link to join the GhanaWeekend channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for YOU: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaJ31iEDTkK8wIHNj31A
