Former minister and Member of Parliament, Mavis Hawa Koomson, and New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, Nana Akua Afriyie, were assaulted on Friday during a chaotic rerun of parliamentary elections in the Ablekuma North constituency.
The violence broke out at St. Peter’s polling station when a group of unidentified muscular men, often referred to locally as "macho men", stormed the premises, disrupting the voting process.
Eyewitnesses described the attackers’ actions as deliberate and coordinated, sparking panic among voters and temporarily halting voting. Security forces were later deployed to restore order and resume the election.
According to Channel One News reporter Jude Duncan, both Ms Afriyie and a female party agent suffered facial injuries during the assault. The extent of former MP Hawa Koomson’s injuries remains unclear.
The rerun, which spans 19 polling stations, was ordered by the Electoral Commission (EC) to resolve a dispute following the December 2024 general election. The Ablekuma North seat has remained vacant since then.
The NPP officially boycotted the rerun, alleging procedural unfairness. However, their candidate, Nana Akua Afriyie, defied the party's directive and participated in the election—heightening tensions in the already politically charged.
