Violence marred the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on Friday, July 11, 2025, as former Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson was physically assaulted by a group of unidentified individuals believed to be politically motivated attackers.
The chaos unfolded at the St. Peter’s polling station in Odorkor, where Koomson had gone to monitor the rerun. Reports indicate she was caught in a violent confrontation and struck by the attackers, who also injured several other New Patriotic Party (NPP) members present at the scene. Among those hurt was the party’s parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Nana Akua Afriyie.
Following the incident, former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia visited Hawa Koomson at her residence to express support and check on her well-being. The visit took place on the morning of Sunday, July 13, 2025.
Koomson later shared details of the visit in a social media post, where she described Bawumia’s gesture as deeply comforting to her and her family amid the trauma of the attack.
Ghanaians, especially NPP loyalists, have expressed outrage over the incident, with many demanding swift justice. There have also been growing concerns about electoral security, with voters and political leaders alike questioning how such violence could take place in broad daylight during a supervised election process.
The Electoral Commission organized the rerun across 19 polling stations in Ablekuma North after irregularities disrupted the original 2024 parliamentary results. Unfortunately, the repeat exercise was stained by outbreaks of violence, reigniting national conversations about political thuggery and the safety of candidates and voters.
Calls are mounting for the Ghana Police Service to identify and prosecute those responsible for the attack, as the country continues to navigate the tense political atmosphere ahead of the next general election.
