Former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has defended her use of pepper spray during last Friday’s chaotic parliamentary rerun in the Ablekuma North Constituency, describing it as an act of self-defence.
The by-election, held on July 11, descended into confusion at the St. Peter’s Methodist Church polling station after a group of unidentified men reportedly overpowered police officers and attacked several individuals, including the former Fisheries Minister.
Viral videos from the scene captured the moment Koomson pulled out a canister—later confirmed to be pepper spray—and discharged it as a group of men advanced toward her.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the incident in an interview with Accra-based UTV on Tuesday, July 15, Koomson denied allegations that she went to the polling station intending to incite violence.
“I was at the voting centre with my security detail, but the police insisted I enter alone, saying unauthorized persons were not allowed inside. I did not go there to cause trouble,” she said.
She claimed that she was specifically targeted by individuals she recognized from Kasoa, alleging they were affiliated with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“As soon as the thugs entered, I saw two NDC guys from Kasoa. One of them shouted, ‘Where is Hawa Koomson?’ and they just pounced on me,” she recounted. “So the claims that I went there with ill intentions and carried pepper spray for that purpose are unfounded.”
Koomson insisted that her actions were a direct response to a perceived threat to her life.
“My son was stabbed during the voter registration exercise, so I know I’m a target for the NDC. When I saw the thugs approaching with knives, I had to act in self-defence,” she said.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Nana Agyenim Boateng Sikapa
