Registration Centre Shooting: Calling for Hawa Koomson’s Sacking is ‘Pointless’ – NPP Chairman

The National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Freddie Blay, says calls for the sacking of Minister of Special Development Initiatives over gun firing incident at a voters’ registration centre are ‘pointless’ and ‘needless’.

According to Mr Blay, Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson's acted in self-defence after being attacked by motorists allegedly from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in her constituency.

FREDDIE BLAY

Earlier Monday, officials of the Electoral Commission closed down the Step to Christ registration center in Kasoa after ‘armed thugs’ stormed the premises and fired gunshots.

Per eyewitnesses account, the men numbering at least 15 arrived at the centre with the MP (Hawa Koomson) around 8 am and tried to sack some prospective voters.

Subsequently, Hawa Koomson, in narrating the incident, explained that, she was rather attacked by some men from the NDC at the centre. Therefore, she fired a warning shot in self-defence since her police escort were absent at the time. She however debunked reports of her men firing any gun.

However, several groups including IMANI, Occupy Ghana and the National Peace Council have condemned the actions of the Minister, calling for her immediate resignation or sacking.

However, Mr Blay contends that these groups have been misled by the propaganda and misrepresentation of the opposition NDC.

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In a statement, Mr Blay said if the groups had conducted a "more rational assessment of the facts" they would not ostracize Mrs Koomson and call her names.

"...it is most worrying to see different groups expected to be more objective in their submissions, rather fall for the propaganda and misrepresentation of the opposition NDC in relations to the matter," the statement said.

"With the unfolding evidence and facts surrounding the incidence, it is clear that her actions were in self-defense to the unwarranted attacks on her and her team by masked motorists invited by the NDC to disrupt the EC registration process in her constituency.

He also stated that the NPP has an obligation to protect the hard-earned democratic reputation of the Party.

Find below the Full statement

STATEMENT BY NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF NPP ON HAWA KOOMSON, MP AWUTU SENYA EAST

Leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken keen interest with developments in the media surrounding its Parliamentary Candidate in Awutu Senya East Constituency, Hon. Mrs. Mavis Hawa Koomson. As much as Hon. Hawa Koomson has come out with a statement to clarify the circumstances resulting in her reaction to a life threatening situation, it is most worrying to see different groups expected to be more objective in their submissions, rather fall for the propaganda and misrepresentation of the opposition NDC in relations to the matter. With the unfolding evidence and facts surrounding the incidence, it is clear that her actions were in self-defense to the unwarranted attacks on her and her team by masked motorists invited by the NDC to disrupt the EC registration process in her constituency.

Arguably, Mrs. Hawa Koomson is one of the calmest female representatives of the NPP in Parliament and there is no evidence of any sort that can suggest her to be a violent individual, even in the face of extreme provocation. Unfortunately, the NDC’s ploy to stage confusion at registration centers across the country in their quest to discredit the electoral processes and create disaffection for the NPP, seems to be gaining momentum. However, the NPP has an obligation to its members and admirers, to ensure it protects the hard-earned democratic reputation of the Party.

It would have been expected that those individuals and institutions who have found their voices after this unfortunate incident, even to the extent of calling for the resignation and/or dismissal of Mrs. Hawa Koomson, undertook a more rational assessment of the facts before unfairly ostracizing her and calling her names. They have failed to evaluate the extent of fear and trauma this lady, mother and leader had experienced following the siege on her by sufficiently outnumbered armed hooliganshired by the NDC to disrupt the EC registration process.

Besides preventing the Member of Parliament from witnessing the process in her constituency, evidential attacks on her convoy clearly demonstrates premeditation of events by the opposition NDC to humiliate, intimidate and molesther.

With the ongoing police investigations, the NPP calls on the good people of Ghana to exercise restraint in their utterances and conduct with respect to this matter. The CSOs, journalists and the army of security experts commenting on this issue must resist the temptation of emotional outbursts that are likely to fuel the violent desires of the opposition NDC, creating more indiscipline among their followers during the EC registration process and subsequently, the general elections. It is most regrettable to find highly placed individuals resorting to name-calling and equally falling for the propaganda scheme of the opposition NDC to make light the commitment of H. E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo in the fight against vigilantism and political violence in Ghana.

The pointless calls on the President to terminate the appointment of Hon. Hawa Koomson is absolutely needless and must be totally disregarded. Let the good people of Ghana see such enthusiasm channeled into productive discussions aimed at addressing the fundamental concerns of recklessness and provocations of the NDC during this registration process.

I once again call on the Party’s leadership at the Regional and Constituency levels to continue exercising restrain, whilst remaining vigilant in foiling attempts by the opposition NDC to indulge in all forms of illegalities as far as the EC’s new voters’ registration process is concerned. I equally urge the security agencies stationed at polling stations, to remain forthright in ensuring that petitioners follow due process in challenging suspected unqualified individuals desirous of registering for the new voters’ ID.

I also seize this opportunity to encourage the Ghanaian middle class society and professionals to take some time off their busy schedules and go out in their numbers to participate in the new voter registration process, observing all the COVID 19 protocols.

Let us not stand aloof and uninvolved, but prepare to cast our votes and support the good economic policies of the Nana Akufo Addo-led administration that inures to the benefit of us all. We must not make us lose faith in the prospects of our chosen democratic path.

The NPP remains open for the exploration of direct talks with the opposition NDC and other political parties on issues of common interest and concern, moving away from the normal practice of frequently engaging an arbiter in mediating affairs of political parties.

—–Signed——
Hon. Freddie Wosemewu Armah Blay

National Chairman, NPP