The conduct of the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and MP for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has been called into question by Edudzi Tamakloe, the Director of Legal Affairs for the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Tamakloe believes that the actions of Hawa Koomson have emboldened her son to engage in violence in the constituency.
The violence erupted on Sunday, June 2, during the transfer of vote exercise at the Electoral Commission (EC) office. The clash, which involved the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), reportedly started over a disagreement about the queuing of voters seeking to transfer their votes to the constituency.
Ato Koomson, the son of the incumbent MP Mavis Hawa Koomson, was stabbed in the chest during the violence and was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. Speaking on TV3 New Day, Tamakloe highlighted the incumbent MP’s history of fomenting trouble during electoral processes in the constituency.
He pointed out that Hawa Koomson had previously gone to a voter registration center fully armed and fired live ammunition, yet faced no consequences for her actions. This, according to Tamakloe, has emboldened her son to believe that he can act with impunity.
Meanwhile, three members of the NDC were also injured during the clash and are currently receiving treatment at the Kasoa Polyclinic. The police have arrested two individuals, including the NDC constituency organiser, in connection with the violence.
The constituency Communication officer for the NDC described the incident as another example of aggression and lawlessness by the NPP. The party is closely monitoring the police’s handling of the situation, raising concerns about the impartiality of the authorities.
It is evident that the recent violence in Awutu Senya East has highlighted a deeper issue of political tension and aggression in the constituency. The actions of political figures like Hawa Koomson have been criticized for fueling violence and emboldening individuals to engage in unlawful behavior. The NDC and NPP must work together to address these issues and ensure a peaceful electoral process in the future.
