Ablekuma North Rerun: Hawa Koomson fighting for her life after attack

A former Presidential Staffer under the Akufo-Addo administration, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has revealed that former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Hawa Koomson, is currently battling for her life after being violently assaulted during the parliamentary rerun in the Ablekuma North Constituency.

Speaking to journalists following the chaos, Mr. Aboagye expressed grave concern over the security situation at the polls. “Our people are being attacked. As we speak, Hawa Koomson is currently fighting for her life in a hospital,” he stated.

The violent incident occurred at the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station, one of the 19 stations involved in the rerun. The process was abruptly suspended after a group of unidentified thugs arrived in a pickup vehicle, overpowered the police officers guarding the premises, and forcefully stormed the voting area.

Eyewitnesses said the thugs, upon gaining access, began attacking individuals at the station. Hawa Koomson, who was present to support her party’s candidate, was one of the people severely assaulted. According to on-site reports, including one by TV3’s Stanley Nii Blewu, she was kicked in the groin and collapsed. The attackers continued to kick her while she was on the ground until the police intervened and whisked her away to safety.

In addition to Koomson, other individuals, including journalists covering the election, were also assaulted during the melee. A female reporter from JoyNews was reportedly attacked while filming the incident.

The Electoral Commission has not yet made a public statement on the violence, but the Ghana Police Service has intensified its presence at polling centers in an attempt to restore calm and ensure the continuation of the electoral process.

The Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun is being held to resolve disputes from the December 2024 general elections, where results from 19 polling stations were not authenticated.

Tensions have remained high, with both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) accusing each other of electoral misconduct.