The Majority Whip in Parliament, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has slammed the former Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hawa Koomson, labelling her actions during the recent parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North as those of a “vigilante.”
The Majority Whip, speaking on the Key Points on TV3, expressed concern over her presence at a polling station armed with pepper spray, which he argued partly incited the violence that ensued.
“In Ablekuma North, during elections, with pepper spray in your bag — who are you? Are you not a vigilante?” the Majority Whip questioned. He asserted that “pepper spray is a weapon, by definition, so why didn’t the police act? She came as a vigilante. Even her actions constitute provocation under the law.”
Referring to Ghana’s Criminal and Other Offences Act (Act 29), the Majority Whip indicated the legal implications of provocation in violent situations. “Read Act 29 and look at the provisions on provocation. If you provoke people and they react, it becomes a defence in law. That’s what I’m saying—she provoked the crowd,” he stated.
The Majority Whip also criticised the police for their perceived failure in managing the crowd and questioned the lack of proper enforcement of security protocols within the designated polling area defined under C.I. 127.
“Polling stations are designated and gazetted under C.I. 127. You don’t enter such an area with a weapon, concealed or not. Otherwise, you ought to be treated as a vigilante,” he emphasised.
While expressing sympathy for Hawa Koomson, who was physically assaulted during the incident, the Majority Whip insisted that her conduct as a former Minister of State was irresponsible.
“Yes, she’s a mother. I sympathise with the physical assault on her. But let’s criticise her conduct. As a former Minister of State, you don’t show up at a polling station with a concealed weapon. You’re provoking people,” he said.
He commended the behaviour of former Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong during his visit, noting, “We all saw how Bryan Acheampong behaved. He went to a polling station with his hands behind his back. That’s how top officials should conduct themselves.”
The Majority Whip also addressed a statement made by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, which he claimed falsely implicated the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, in the election-related violence. “What the Honourable Minority Leader said about Hon. Mustapha Gbande was false. It was intended to cause public disaffection,” he stated.
He clarified that “Mustapha wasn’t even there when the incident started. In fact, he was the one who rushed in to help. He and Joseph Yamin took Hawa Koomson to the hospital in their vehicle,” emphasising that Gbande’s involvement was purely to offer humanitarian assistance.
“You don’t damn a man for helping. Mustapha Gbande played no role in the mayhem. He rather rescued her and ensured she got medical attention after Sammy Awuku called him,” the Majority Whip stated
The Ablekuma North development has heightened tension in the expected Akwatia by-election, with concerns mounting over security lapses, alleged political provocation, and the spread of misinformation.
