Apologise to Hawa Koomson for Ablekuma North Assault – Minority to President Mahama

The Minority in Parliament has called on President John Dramani Mahama to render a public apology to the former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, for the assault inflicted on her during the recent rerun of the 2024 parliamentary election in Ablekuma North.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus condemned the violence that occurred during the election and made several key demands, including specific requests directed at President John Dramani Mahama.

“President Mahama must publicly condemn the Ablekuma North violence and personally apologize to Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, Nana Akua Afriyie, and all victims of the violent attacks. His statement must be unequivocal, without any qualification or justification for the violence,” a statement read by the Member of Parliament for Atiwa West, Asante Laurette Korkor, on behalf of the Caucus, said.

Describing their demands as non-negotiable, the Caucus also called for the immediate dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Development Fund, Dr. Hanna Louisa Bissiw-Kotei, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency, Malik Basintale, for seemingly endorsing the violence against Hawa Koomson.

“President Mahama must immediately dismiss Dr. Hanna Louisa Bissiw from her position as CEO of the Minerals Development Fund and Malik Basintale from his role as Acting CEO of the Youth Employment Agency. Their celebration and justification of violence against opposition figures disqualify them from holding public office. This dismissal must occur to demonstrate that the government does not condone political violence,” the statement read.

“All individuals involved in the Ablekuma North violence must be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The police must provide daily updates on their investigation and arrests. There can be no impunity for those who attack our democratic process,” it continued.

“The Ghana Police Service must conduct a thorough investigation into their security failures, including the alleged role of Chief Superintendent Lumor Frederick Senanu. Any officers found to be complicit in the Ablekuma North violence must face immediate dismissal and criminal prosecution,” the statement added.

The Minority, while noting the assault suffered by some journalists during the election, said that, coupled with the brazen attack on NPP members and the failure of the police to act, points to a coordinated effort by the NDC to silence those capable of documenting and reporting electoral irregularities.

The Ablekuma North parliamentary election rerun took place on July 11, 2025, in 19 polling stations to resolve disputes from the December 2024 general election. The Electoral Commission (EC) ordered the rerun due to irregularities, including missing signatures on pink sheets and the destruction of original result sheets during violent disruptions at collation centers.

The contest was between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn, and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie. Initially, the NPP announced a boycott, claiming Afriyie had won the original election by 414 votes, but Afriyie defied the party’s directive and participated.

The NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn won the rerun with 34,090 votes against Afriyie’s 33,881, securing a historic victory for the NDC in a traditionally NPP-held constituency since 1996.

The rerun was marred by violence, particularly at the St. Peter’s Society Methodist Church polling station in Odorkor.

Unidentified men, perceived to be sympathizers of the NDC, stormed polling stations in coordinated attacks and assaulted several NPP members, including the former MP.



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