Police Probe ‘Rambo’ Minister! – Over Shooting At Registration Centre

The police have begun investigations into the circumstances leading to the firing of a gun by Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister for Special Development Initiatives at a voter registration Centre in Kasoa in the Central Region.

The police as at press time yesterday had taken statements from the Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for the Awutu Senya East Constituency.

The police are set to slap charges against her while calls mount on the Kasoa Divisional Police to arrest her as would have been the case in any ordinary Ghanaian.

What Happened?

On Monday, officials of the Electoral Commission had to close down the Step to Christ registration centre in the Awutu Senya East constituency after gun wielding men stormed the premises with the MP.

The men, alleged to be numbering about 15 were accused of trying to prevent prospective voters from partaking in the registration exercise and burning motorbikes in the process.

But the MP, says, she was the one wielding a gun and only gave the warning shots when her car was attacked by alleged thugs affiliated with the NDC.

“As Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson entered the polling stations with her entourage, they saw some motorists who had earlier been seen with the NDC’s candidate, Naa Koryor, at Universal polling station. Following and running around the Member of Parliament’s vehicle and attacked her lead vehicle by smashing the taillight and the bumper. The said car is parked at the kasoa police station.

“This was an attempt to ambush her and prevent her from entering the premises. Furthermore, the unidentified motorists had on face masks making it difficult to see their faces.

“The wild behavior of the thugs caused the registrants to scatter because the place had become unsafe.

“Upon seeing the danger posed by these thugs on motorbikes who were attacking her unarmed team close to the polling station, the Member of Parliament quickly gave a warning shot in the air in self-defense to scare off the thugs,” part of a press statement released read.

In the statement sighted by THE NEW PUBLISHER the Minister accused the opposition NDC of escalating the confusion, chaos, and frustrations within the constituency.

The statement concluded by calling on the leadership of the NDC to call its members within the constituency to order and also condemn the constituency executives for their role in the incident that occurred at the polling station.

“Awutu Senya East NPP is not ready to give in to these hooligans in the NDC who have vowed to destroy the registration process and will do all in her power to maintain peace and stability,” it said.

Blame

This follows various backlash received from individuals and civil society organizations.

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has condemned her actions, describing it as disturbing and selfish, while security expert Prof Kwesi Aning is calling for her dismissal as a Minister of State.

Pressure group OccupyGhana also has called on the Police Service to prosecute the minister if she found guilty in the shooting incident.

The group in a statement stated: “We condemn all election-related violence. We also condemn the inexplicable circumstances under which the Minister took a loaded weapon to the registration centre in the first place, when the Minister has police guard, paid for by the state and whose job is to protect her.”

Already, the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) has filed a Criminal Complaint against the MP over the incident.

ASEPA is also asking for restitution or compensation for all the owners of the motorbikes that were burnt by Ms. Koomson’s thugs and any property that was destroyed in the process of the ensuing violence.

Meanwhile, Security analyst Adam Bonaa has urged President Akufo-Addo to sack Ms.  Koomson as a Minister in his government

“For me, she saying her life was in danger was an afterthought and she’s a disgrace to womanhood. If by the 12 noon today, (yesterday) and she has not resigned, the president should fire her.

Contempt

Parliament is however divided over calls to drag the MP before the Privileges Committee of Parliament.

Member of Parliament (MP) Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak who is pushing for that said there is no justification for a legislator to carry arms to a registration centre.

He maintained that her action was an embarrassment to Parliament and contempt of the House.

The Kumbungu MP said madam Koomson had brought the name of House into disrepute and made Parliament a subject of public ridicule.

To remedy to situation, Ras Mubarak wants the Privileges Committee to sanction the Minister to serve as a deterrent to others.

But the Majority in Parliament believes the suggestion to drag the Minister before the Committee is unnecessary.