Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, a member of the NDC’s legal and communications team, has spoken out against the attack on former Fisheries Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson during the parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North, but suggested that her past political actions may have contributed to the response she faced.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Monday, July 14, Adawudu said that although the assault on the former Awutu Senya East MP was wrong and should be condemned, her reputation in Ghanaian politics might have played a role in the incident.
He questioned Koomson’s decision to show up at the polling station with pepper spray. “Why would you carry pepper spray to a polling station if you’re just going there to monitor? What was the intention?” he asked. “Other senior NPP members were present and weren’t attacked. She should have anticipated the risk. As I always say, if you live by the sword, you’ll die by the sword.”
Adawudu emphasized that Koomson has long been perceived as having a combative political style, which may have escalated tensions at the polling station.
“The image she’s built for herself is one of aggression, and that doesn’t help her. When she arrived and tensions flared, her instincts should’ve warned her it wasn’t a safe environment. This isn’t to excuse what happened — the attack must be condemned,” he clarified.
The incident occurred on Friday, July 11, when unidentified individuals disrupted voting at the St. Peter’s Society Methodist Church polling station, creating panic among voters and election officials.
Channel One News’ Jude Duncan reported that both Hawa Koomson and the NPP candidate, Nana Akua Afriyie, were physically attacked and suffered facial injuries.
Security forces were later deployed to restore order and allow the voting process to continue.
The Electoral Commission held the rerun in 19 polling stations in Ablekuma North following unresolved issues from the December 7, 2024, general elections. The seat had remained vacant since then.
At the end of voting on July 11, the NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn was declared the MP-elect with 34,090 votes, narrowly edging out the NPP’s Nana Akua Afriyie, who garnered 33,881 votes.
