Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Awutu Senya East, has yanked the seat from the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament, Mavis Hawa Koomson.
Following hours of confusion during the collation of the December 7 electoral results, the Electoral Commission (EC) declared her the winner.
Naa Koryoo polled 50,886 votes, representing 52.7%, while her fierce opponent, Hawa Koomson, garnered 45,638 votes, representing 47.3%.
Her win signifies the end of a 12-year NPP and Hawa Koomson’s dominance over the constituency.
This may also end a fierce and violent battle between the two contestants in the run-up to the polls.
The tough and unending battle for control over the Awutu Senya East Constituency kept stirring trouble at the least provocation, over the past four years.
In the few months before the general elections, the battle for supremacy escalated, causing political clashes and tension between the parliamentary candidates and their supporters.
The confrontations resulted in gunshots and police arrests involving both sides.
Leading up to the election, The Ghana Report compiled a list of some incidents that occurred in the constituency.
- Hawa Koomson’s Son Stabbed During Voter Registration Clash
On June 2, 2024, Ato Koomsom, son of Awutu Senya East MP Hawa Koomson, was reportedly stabbed following a confrontation near the Electoral Commission’s office in Kasoa.
The altercation began when the NPP and NDC supporters clashed over the order of residents in the queue for the voter ID card transfer and replacement exercise.
Mr. Koomson reportedly attempted to help calm the situation but got stabbed in the chest during the heated situation.
Another NPP supporter also sustained a minor injury while trying to intervene.
- 3 Gun-Wielding ‘Thugs’ Arrested At Kasoa EC Office
On the same June 2, the Ghana Police Service arrested three persons, including the NDC parliamentary candidate, Naa Koryoo, around the Electoral Commission (EC) Office at Ofaakor for possession of a firearm without lawful authority.
The police retrieved one pump-action gun with four rounds of ammunition from their vehicle.
However, she later denied claims of her arrest.
She explained that she was only invited by the police because her driver and security guard were arrested.
Naa Koryoo also revealed that she carried the weapon for self-protection against the incumbent MP, citing multiple instances during the 2020 elections where Hawa Koomson allegedly threatened her.
She added Hawa Koomson pulled a gun on her on four different occasions. Since law enforcement agencies failed to address the situation, she found the need to take matters into her own hands regarding her security.
- Armed Men Open Fire At Polling Station
During the general elections on December 7, 2020, at least two people were confirmed injured in a shootout at one of the polling stations in the Awutu Senya East Constituency.
The incident occurred when unknown gunmen allegedly opened fire on a KIA Soul saloon car.
According to the driver of the vehicle, they were agents of the opposition National Democratic Congress who were visiting the centre to observe the process.
- Hawa Koomson Admits Using Weapon At Registration Center
The MP for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, fired warning shots at the Steps to Christ polling station during the voter registration exercise in June 2020.
The then Special Development Initiatives Minister claimed it was in self-defence.
She claimed her opponent, Philis Naa Koryoo Okunor, had bused some people into the constituency to register at the particular registration centre.
She said she witnessed intimidating scenes at the polling station that forced her to fire the shots.
“I realized that my people’s lives were in danger. I wanted to scare them,” she said.
About 15 of her men also tried to sack some applicants suspected to have come from outside the region.
This led to complete chaos at the scene, forcing Electoral Commission (EC) officials to flee.
No arrests were made after the violent incident.
- Four NDC Agents Arrested at Awutu Senya East
In July of the same year, four party agents reportedly belonging to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Awutu Senya East constituency were arrested.
The four were arrested for duplicating accreditation cards belonging to the EC.
They were arrested at various registration centres in the constituency during the registration exercise.
- Gunshots fired as NDC, NPP supporters clash at polling station
Several gunshots were fired after supporters of NDC and NPP clashed at a polling station during the 2023 District Level Elections at Kasoa.
This was reportedly after the NDC requested a recount of the ballots in the Kasoa Kpomotey and Kasoa Old Times electoral areas.
NDC claimed the ICGC polling station was supposed to have four ballot boxes for Assembly members and four for Unit Committee aspirants.
However, after the elections, the ballot boxes for Assembly members became five instead of four.
After counting and results were declared in favour of the candidate allegedly affiliated with the NPP, the NDC supporters called for a recount.
This led to the clash. Some persons started shooting sporadically while others sprayed pepper spray into the crowd.
- Hawa Koomson Allegedly Assaults Journalist
During the NPP’s parliamentary aspirant vetting in the constituency in January 2024, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development was alleged to have masterminded an assault on David Kobbina, a journalist with Cape FM.
Upon reports to law enforcement agencies, no arrests were made.
This triggered the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to declare a media blackout against Madam Koomson.
Meanwhile, the Awutu Senya East MP vehemently denied all accusations against her and her associates.
