Former Awutu-Senya East MP and ex-Fisheries Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has refuted claims that she had any ill intent during her visit to the polling station in the recent Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun.
Madam Koomson explained that she carried pepper spray purely for personal protection and not to cause harm. The former MP came under public scrutiny after video footage surfaced showing her being assaulted by a mob at the polling station, despite deploying the spray in an attempt to defend herself.
In the footage, Koomson is seen being knocked to the ground and stomped in the groin area before police officers intervened.
Clarifying her presence at the polling station, she said, “I didn’t go there with any bad intention. I’ve had traumatic experiences during elections, and I always carry pepper spray as a safety precaution.”
She recalled a past incident where her son was stabbed during political violence, a moment she said profoundly impacted her sense of security during election activities.
According to her, the attackers approached without provocation and with intent to cause serious harm.
“They came with the intention to just kill me without any provocation,” she alleged.
The chaotic scenes at the Ablekuma North polls have triggered debate, with some critics accusing Koomson of inciting tension by bringing a weapon to the polling station. But she maintains that her actions were driven by a need for self-protection, not aggression.
“What happened to me should never happen to anyone. I acted purely out of fear, not violence,” she stated.
The incident has reignited conversations around election-related violence in Ghana and the need for improved security and conflict de-escalation at polling centres.
