“I Had to Protect Myself” – Hawa Koomson Defends Use of Pepper Spray During Ablekuma North Chaos
Hawa Koomson Denies Intent to Cause Violence at Voting Centre
- Hawa Koomson says she used pepper spray in self-defence
- Claims she was targeted by alleged NDC-affiliated attackers
- Denies going to polling station to incite violence
Former Awutu Senya East MP and ex-Fisheries Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has justified her use of pepper spray during last Friday’s chaotic parliamentary rerun in the Ablekuma North Constituency, insisting she acted purely in self-defence.
The incident occurred on July 11 at the St. Peter’s Methodist Church polling station, where a group of unidentified men reportedly overpowered police officers and launched attacks on several individuals — including Hawa Koomson herself.
Viral videos showed the moment she reached into her bag and sprayed a substance, later confirmed to be pepper spray, as a crowd of men advanced toward her.
Breaking her silence in an interview on Tuesday, July 15, Koomson denied accusations that she went to the polling centre to incite violence.
“I was there with my security detail, but police insisted I enter alone. I didn’t go there to cause any trouble,” she stated.
Koomson claimed that she was specifically targeted by thugs she identified as members of the opposition NDC from Kasoa, one of whom allegedly shouted her name before charging at her.
“One of them screamed, ‘Where is Hawa Koomson?’ and they came straight at me. I didn’t carry pepper spray to cause trouble — it was for protection.”
She further explained that her reaction was influenced by previous violent encounters, referencing an earlier incident in which her son was stabbed during a voter registration exercise.
“Knowing I’m a target, and seeing them approach with knives, I had no choice. I acted in self-defence,” she asserted.
