Former Awutu-Senya East MP, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has spoken out about deploying pepper spray during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on July 11.
The incident occurred at the St Peter’s Methodist Church polling station, where violence erupted amid reports of unidentified men overpowering police and assaulting voters and officials.
“I did not go there to cause trouble,” Hawa Koomson insisted in an interview on UTV.
She alleged that she was targeted by individuals linked to the opposition NDC, who she claimed were intent on harming her. “One of them shouted, ‘Where is Hawa Koomson?’ and they just pounced on me,” she recounted.
Koomson dismissed suggestions that her action was premeditated, saying: “The claims that I went there with ill intentions and carried pepper spray for that purpose are unfounded.” She described the incident as terrifying and said she acted in self-defence when she saw the thugs approaching her with knives.
“My son was stabbed during the voter registration exercise, so I know I’m a target for the NDC,” Koomson added. “When I saw the thugs walking toward me holding knives, I acted in self-defence.”
The incident has sparked accusations and counter-accusations between NPP and NDC figures, but Koomson remains steadfast that her only intent was to protect herself in a volatile environment.
