In a tumultuous parliamentary rerun in the Ablekuma North Constituency last Friday, former Awutu Senya East MP Mavis Hawa Koomson defended her use of pepper spray, claiming it was an act of self-defence.
After a gang of unidentified males allegedly overwhelmed police officers at the St. Peter’s Methodist Church polling booth and attacked multiple individuals, including the previous Fisheries Minister, the election, which was held on Friday, July 11, became chaotic.
As a group of males approached her, Hawa Koomson reached for a canister, later identified as pepper spray, and used it. The incident was caught on camera and went viral.
In an interview with Accra-based UTV on Tuesday, July 15, Hawa Koomson denied allegations that she went to the voting station with the intent to cause chaos, marking her first public appearance since the incident.
“The police demanded that I enter the voting location alone, claiming that unapproved individuals were not permitted, even though I was there with my security. She said, “I didn’t go there to cause trouble.”
She recalled that people she knew from Kasoa specifically targeted her, claiming they were members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
I recognised two NDC men from Kasoa as soon as the thugs arrived. When one of them yelled, “Where is Hawa Koomson?” they immediately charged at me. Therefore, it is untrue to say that I went there with malicious intent and had pepper spray with me.
The former MP insisted that a perceived danger to her life was what set off her reaction.
“I am aware that the NDC is targeting me since my kid was stabbed during the voter registration drive. I defended myself when I noticed the men approaching me with knives.
