Former Presidential Staffer under the Akufo-Addo administration, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has disclosed that former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, is currently battling for her life after being violently assaulted during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, July 11, Aboagye confirmed the gravity of Koomson’s condition, stating,
“Hawa Koomson is currently fighting for her life in a hospital.”
The disturbing incident occurred at the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station when a group of unidentified thugs, reportedly arriving in a pickup truck, stormed the voting center and launched attacks on individuals present, including Hawa Koomson.
Eyewitnesses and a video report Confirm that the former minister was kicked in the groin and fell to the ground, after which the attackers continued to beat her until police officers intervened and rushed her away from the scene.
A JoyNews journalist attempting to capture footage of the chaos was also assaulted, alongside several others. Despite the heavy police presence, security personnel were unable to prevent the violent outbreak or control the situation immediately.
Election Tensions at Boiling Point
The violence underscores the tense and volatile atmosphere surrounding the rerun of the parliamentary elections in 19 selected polling stations across Ablekuma North. The rerun was ordered to resolve disputes from the December 2024 general election, which left the constituency without parliamentary representation for over seven months.
The contest between the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh and the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) Ewurabena Aubynn remains extremely tight, with a slim 48-vote margin based on already collated results from 262 polling stations:
- NPP: 32,512
- NDC: 32,464
With 6,863 voters expected to cast ballots in the rerun, the stakes are high and every vote critical.
Background of the Electoral Dispute
The Electoral Commission (EC) initiated the partial rerun following violent disruptions at the collation center in December, which led to the destruction of original result forms (Pink Sheets). The EC continued the collation using 37 scanned copies provided by the NPP—a move fiercely contested by the NDC, who insisted on a full rerun in all affected polling stations.
While the NPP officially rejected the EC’s directive and attempted to stop the rerun through legal channels, its parliamentary candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, chose to participate after her court challenge was dismissed.
Calls for Accountability
In light of the escalating violence, including earlier assaults on journalists and party officials, there have been renewed calls from political and civil society leaders for the police and Electoral Commission to enforce order and ensure the safety of voters, candidates, and observers.
The final outcome of the Ablekuma North rerun remains pending, but the events of the day have once again raised serious concerns about election security and the protection of democratic processes in Ghana.
