Madam Mavis Hawa Koomson

Hawa Koomson: Minister fires gun at registration centre, 4 arrested

Kweku Zurek Politics Jul - 21 - 2020 , 08:51

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Awutu Senya East Constituency, Mavis Hawa Koomson has admitted to firing shots at a voter registration centre in her constituency on Monday (July 20, 2020) "to protect herself".

Ms Koomson who doubles as the Minister of Special Development Initiatives in a television interview on Adom TV on Monday evening said she fired "warning shots" because "there were no police around".

She said she went to the centre after receiving information that people from outside the constituency were bussed to register there as voters.

According to her, she received information last week Thursday when she visited the Step to Christ registration centre, that members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) were transporting [bussing] people from outside the constituency, from Gomoa East and Nsawam to come and register at the Step to Christ polling station.

She claimed that particular polling station was her [NPP] stronghold and has never lost an election in that polling station [2012 and 2016].

She said she told her informant that when she sees it again, she should call her.

She said she got information again that it was happening last Friday but could not go there and there was a break on Saturday

But on Sunday evening, she received another information that some people have been transported again from Nsawam and Gomoa East to come and register at the centre.

So she decided to visit the registration centre on Monday morning.

According to her, her manager took the lead and arrived at the centre earlier but when she arrived at the scene, there were many boys on motorbikes and she felt her people's life and that of her's were in danger, so she fired the warning shots in an attempt to scare them, she said.

"I didn't direct it at anybody," she added and explained she did not have her police escort with her at the time.

The incident occurred at the centre situated at the Step to Christ polling station.

Reports indicate there were other gunshots apart from the one from Hawa Koomson.

Some motorbikes were burnt at the centre and EC officials at the centre were attacked as well during the confusion which disrupted the registration process for a while.

The police later intervened and arrested four people after the shooting. A gun was seized by the police.

The Ghana Police has said the MP, Hawa Koomson will be invited as part of investigations.

In a radio interview with Accra based Citi FM Tuesday morning, the Central Regional Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Oppong said: "Yes, we will invite Honourable Hawa to come and assist us but then there is procedure. If you intend to invite a sitting MP [Member of Parliament] to come to the Police Station to help us with investigations there is a procedure".

The suspects are assisting with investigations into the disruption of the voter registration exercise, the burning of motorbikes and the firing of gunshots.

Additionally, the Police says the Kasoa Peace Town Top Hill Down polling centre where the incident happened has resumed registering voters.