By Issah Olegor
In the aftermath of violent scenes that marred the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North, former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Sunday paid a visit to Mavis Hawa Koomson, the former Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, who was reportedly assaulted by individuals alleged to be affiliated to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The former Vice President, accompanied by members of his campaign team, visited Hawa Koomson at her residence to check on her condition and express his solidarity following the incident.
The attack, which is believed to have taken place during the rerun exercise over the weekend, has drawn strong condemnation from the NPP and many political observers.
In a social media post following the visit, Hawa Koomson expressed her appreciation to Dr. Bawumia and his team for the timely show of concern.
“My family and I are extremely grateful for this thoughtful gesture,” she posted.
The Ablekuma North rerun, which was meant to peacefully determine the party’s parliamentary representation for the 2024 elections, turned chaotic after violent clashes broke out at polling centers.
Eyewitness accounts and party sources suggest that a group of individuals believed to be NDC-affiliated stormed voting areas, physically attacking polling agents, NPP supporters, and party leaders, including Hawa Koomson.
In a continuation of his outreach, Dr. Bawumia also visited Akua Afriyieh, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Ablekuma North, and other NPP polling agents who were also reportedly assaulted during the mayhem.
At each stop, the former Vice President offered words of encouragement, condemned the violent acts, and assured the victims that the party would provide all necessary medical and psychological support to aid in their recovery.
“This is not the kind of politics we want to encourage in Ghana,” Dr. Bawumia reportedly told victims and supporters. “No one should be harmed for participating in a democratic process.”
Dr Bawumia, also visited the injured at a private medical facility in Accra on Sunday, expressed solidarity with the victims and commended their courage in the face of what he described as “unprovoked and unacceptable violence.”
He condemned the attacks as a threat to Ghana’s democracy and reaffirmed his party’s commitment to peaceful and lawful electoral processes.
“No one should suffer such brutality for simply participating in a democratic process.
We will ensure their hospital bills are taken care of, and that justice is pursued through the appropriate channels,” he stated.
The Ablekuma North rerun was marred by chaotic scenes, with reports of assaults on party agents, journalists, and even former Members of Parliament.
The NPP has since called for a full-scale investigation into the incident, while the Minority in Parliament described the violence as a coordinated assault on the nation’s democratic institutions.
