Ato Koomson, son of Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East and Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, was stabbed following a dispute among political party supporters in a disturbing incident that occurred close to the Electoral Commission’s headquarters in Kasoa. The event reflects the unstable political dynamics in the region and happened during the ongoing voter ID card transfer and replacement operation.
Witness reports state that the fight started at 4:00 AM when members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) fought over spots in the registration line. Party supporters usually mark their places in line with chairs, which on this particular occasion became the center of attention.
Ato Koomson arrived at the scene approximately 45 minutes after the dispute had started in an attempt to mediate and deescalate the situation. He approached the NDC organizer at the site to discuss a resolution. However, the situation escalated when another individual, reportedly a member of the NDC, began to verbally assault Koomson. The confrontation took a violent turn when this individual allegedly brandished a knife and stabbed Koomson in the chest.
While attempting to intervene, King Adawu, an NPP member who was present at the incident, suffered a slight injury. Adawu described the incident to Kofi Adjei of Adom News, saying that he wounded his hand trying to stop the attack. The injured individuals were promptly sent to the hospital. While Koomson was sent to the 37 Military Hospital in critical condition, Adawu got treatment and was later released.
After the event, the local police responded quickly and detained two people who were connected to the attack. Although the individuals who were detained have not yet had their identities formally revealed, there are rumors that they have connections to the NDC. Concerns over voter registration center security have been raised by this occurrence, especially in locations like Kasoa, which are renowned for their political volatility.
In addition to upsetting the families of those affected, the incident has initiated a larger conversation about the value of political acceptance and the protection of public areas where civic tasks are performed. While emphasizing the necessity of strict security measures during voting activities, the continuing inquiry should bring clarity and justice to the victims.
