Former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has expressed appreciation to Vice-President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, for visiting her following an alleged assault during the Ablekuma North parliamentary election rerun.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, July 13, 2025, the former Fisheries Minister disclosed that Dr Bawumia and members of his team called on her at her residence to check on her recovery after she was attacked at the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station.
“This morning, H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his team visited me at my residence to check on my health after I was brutally assaulted by thugs during the Ablekuma North rerun,” she wrote. “My family and I are extremely grateful for this thoughtful gesture.”
The incident involving Ms Koomson occurred midday on Friday, July 11, and temporarily disrupted the voting process. Eyewitnesses said she had returned to the polling station after an earlier visit and refused to comply with police directives to leave, prompting a violent confrontation. Ms Koomson allegedly used pepper spray in an attempt to defend herself before she was physically attacked and later escorted out by security officers.
The rerun in Ablekuma North was conducted in 19 polling stations following disputes from the 2024 general election. It ended the NPP’s 28-year hold on the seat, with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn, declared winner after polling 34,090 votes against NPP’s Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, who secured 33,881 votes.
The election was largely peaceful, though incidents at two polling stations, including the assault on GHOne journalist Agyekum Banahene by a police officer, marred an otherwise orderly process. The officer involved has since been interdicted, according to a statement from the Ghana Police Service.
Ms Koomson’s post has attracted widespread attention, with supporters and party figures expressing solidarity and condemning the violence.
Meanwhile, Ms Aubynn, the MP-elect, has said she was unaware of the violent incident at the time, as she had been moving between polling centres throughout the day. She has pledged to work for all constituents, vowing to address key issues such as flooding and poor roads in the area.
