Ransford Gyampo, Professor of Political Science, University of Ghana, has said that former MP for Awutu Senya East Constituency, Hawa Koomson, should not have been allowed to enter the polling centre during the Ablekima North rerun.
Gyampo says the past history of Hawa Koomson was always going to attract some chaos.
Hawa Koomson shouldn’t have been allowed to go near the voting centre because she has a past history. I, however, condemn the violence against her.
“Regardless of her action, two wrongs don’t make a right. We cannot take the laws into our own hands because we are angry; otherwise, we’ll be perpetuating a bad cycle,” Gyampo said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, July 12.
For his part, a Security Expert, Dr Ishmael Norman, said the Inspector General of Police (IGP) should immediately identify the Police Officers who misbehaved during the Ablekuma North rerun and punish them accordingly.
He stated that the Police should have anticipated the mayhem that occurred during the Ablekuma North Parliamentary rerun and declared the area a hot spot.
Dr Norman also accused the Police of not being proactive.
Dr Norman further called on the Police to prosecute the person who attacked former MP for Awutu Senya East Constituency, Hawa Koomson.
He condemned the attacks on her and further blamed the violence on the Police.
Speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday July 12, “Overall, I think the performance wasn’t too bad…they should have anticipated the violence and declared the place a hotspot. The preparedness was poor. They had to think about the worst-case scenario, but they didn’t do that.
Definitely, the Police officers were dispatched. I also want them to prosecute the persons who attacked the woman. This is the fault of the Police, they should have searched everyone.”
He added “The IGP should immediately identify the Police Officers who misbehaved during the Ablekuma North rerun and punish them accordingly.”
The voting process at the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station was suspended after chaos erupted during the Ablekuma North rerun in 19 polling stations.
Some unknown thugs pulled up in a pickup vehicle at the polling station and forcefully entered the premises of the polling station ,which was then being protected by police officers.
The thugs in their numbers then proceeded to the spot where the polling station was mounted and began assaulting some individuals.
A notable personality who was amongst the individuals assaulted was former MP for Awutu Senya East Constituency, Hawa Koomson.
TV3’s Stanley Nii Blewu, who was present at the scene, reported that the former lawmaker was kicked in the groin and fell to the ground. After which, the thugs continued to kick her on the ground until the police officers quickly intervened and whisked her away.
Nii Blewu reported that a JoyNews journalist was also assaulted while she was taking videos of the chaos. Other individuals were also assaulted.
Police interdict officer seen in viral video assaulting a reporter.
The police officers, despite being many at the premises, could not prevent the attack and foil the chaos.
Voting is currently underway in 19 selected polling stations across the Ablekuma North Constituency in a partial election rerun that will finally determine its Member of Parliament.
The election pits the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn, against the NPP’s Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh.
The election became necessary to break a seven-month deadlock that has left the constituency without parliamentary representation since the December 7th General Election.
The stakes: A numbers game
The race is exceptionally tight, making the outcome of today’s rerun critical. From the 262 polling stations already collated, the results stand as follows:
NPP (Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh): 32,512
NDC (Ewurabena Aubynn): 32,464
Difference: 48 votes
Background of the Rerun
The impasse began during the collation of results last December when, according to the Electoral Commission (EC), political party supporters besieged the collation centre and destroyed an unspecified number of original result forms (Pink Sheets).
This led to the use of 37 scanned Pink Sheets, provided by the NPP, to continue the collation process.
The NDC objected, insisting on a full rerun in all 37 polling stations where scanned copies were used.
The NPP, however, argued that since NDC agents had verified the scanned copies, the results should stand.
Ablekuma North rerun: Chaos erupts at Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station; Hawa Koomson assaulted
Onuaonline and 3 news
