A leading security analyst in Ghana, Dr Ishmael Norman, has condemned the recent assault on former Fisheries Minister and MP for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, during the violent parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North, urging the Ghana Police Service to swiftly arrest and prosecute the culprits.
The violence, which erupted at the St. Peter’s Polling Station in Odorkor, saw several individuals, including Hawa Koomson and NPP parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Afriyie, physically assaulted by a group of unidentified men in what eyewitnesses described as a coordinated attack.
Dr Norman, speaking in the aftermath of the disturbing scenes, said the failure of law enforcement to provide adequate protection and act swiftly during the chaos was “deeply concerning.”
“The police must arrest and prosecute the individual who attacked Honourable Hawa Koomson. This impunity cannot continue,” he stated firmly.
He further criticised the Police Service for what he described as institutional lapses and inaction, which he believes embolden perpetrators of electoral violence.
“This is not just about one politician being assaulted, it is about the erosion of public trust in law enforcement and democratic accountability,” Dr Norman warned.
The Electoral Commission had ordered a rerun in 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North constituency after disputes over the 2024 parliamentary results. What was intended to be a peaceful democratic process, however, turned chaotic with reports of clashes, intimidation, and assaults.
Video footage circulating online shows Hawa Koomson being forced to the ground and physically attacked, prompting widespread public outrage and condemnation from political leaders and civil society groups alike.
Dr Norman’s comments come as pressure mounts on the Inspector General of Police and the Criminal Investigations Department to take decisive action and restore confidence in electoral security.
