Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has slammed the Member of Parliament (MP) for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, labelling her as "Captain Zorro", for firing gunshots at a voters' registration centre in Kasoa in the Central Region.
Hon. Hawa Koomson who doubles as Minister for Special Development Initiatives carried a firearm to the centre claiming her “police escort had not started work yet. So that is a mechanism I have adopted in his absence''.
She claims her presence at the registration centre was because she had prior information that her political opponent had bused people who were not residents in the constituency to the centre, and attempting to have them register their names in the ongoing registration exercise.
According to her, she fired the gunshots in self-defence saying “I realised the lives of my people were in danger. So I wanted to scare the people. I fired the warning shots. I didn’t direct it at anybody''.
Reacting to her claims, Kwesi Pratt asked why she didn't inform the Police to handle the situation but rather decided to be the hero of the day.
To him, there is no justification for Hon. Hawa Koomson's to pick up a gun and go on a ''shooting spree'' in the name of protecting herself against violence from opposition party.
Describing her as ''Captain Zorro'', a fictional movie character typically portrayed as a dashing masked vigilante who defends commoners against tyrannical officials, the seasoned journalist believed her action was premeditated and her conduct despicable.
''Doesn't Hon. Hawa Koomson understand the laws? We're told she had prior notice of what was going to happen, that's why she took her gun there. Why didn't she resort to the law enforcement agencies? When she heard some people were going to act violently, why didn't she inform the Police but she decided to pick up a gun?
''Captain Zorro, she herself picked a gun and went to display. Is she not ashamed? There's no justification for such an action. There cannot be a justification for such an action. If every person were to pull a gun any time he or she hears something, would we be safe in this country?'' he questioned her Peace FM's Tuesday edition of ''Kokrokoo''.
Watch full submissions below:
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Listening to Hawa Koomson's own narration, the following issues readily come up 1. Her action was premeditated and premeditation doesn't qualify in the stretch of anybody's wildest imagination, as self-defence. 2. She claims she heard her opponents had bussed people to the registration center and so she went there in the company of 'men'. This clearly demonstrates her intention was to go there and cause commotion - otherwise - instead of going there in the company of 'men', she should have gone there with the police! Are we doing rule of law or rule of men? 3. In the video that has been widely circulated, you can see her violently trying to attack someone. How on earth would a minister, stope so low to go into verbal and near physical or fisticuffs exchanges in the full glare of the public - she is supposed to be an exemplar to? 4. Imagine if the other side had also pulled guns and started firing warning shots what would have happened? Ghana is not a war zone and the earlier we hammered on that to the desperate politicians, the better. 5. I saw how she flatly refused to be restrained by the police. That's a sign of arrogance, offensive show of power, pomposity, and unruliness! This cannot be the hallmark of a leader. 6. My final point, Hawa Koomson should know, she's not above the law. I'm asking the President to fire this lowly minister immediately!
OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM AS A COUNTRY IS THOSE HYPOCRITES , SHELLFISH, AND ATTENTION SEEKERS OF THE SO CALLED SOCIAL COMMENTATORS LIKE KWASI PRATT. THIS MAN IS AN NDC SUPPORTER WORKING FOR HIS PAY MASTER JDM. DO YOU EXPECT THE HON HAWA KOOMSON TO SIT UNCONCERN AND LET NDC MACHO MEN KILL HER? SHE WAS DEFENDING HERSELF.SHAME ON KWASI PRATT FOR CALLING YOURSELF SOCIAL COMMENTATOR. WOLVES WITH SHEEP SKIN.
I support Hon. Hawa 100000000% for firing warning shot because she can not stand aloof for this Ndc criminals attack and her kill before this lazy journalist of Ghana will report her death , i like her action too what a brave woman , next time they should try any Npp woman Mp then we will see what will happen to this Ndc incompetent party.
IT IS DISHEARTENED FOR GHANA PARLIAMENT AND OTHERS TO ATTACK HON, HAWA YAKUBO. HER ATTACKER HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TROUBLE TO KNOW OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED AT THE GROUND. IT IS EASY FOR ANY LAZY ARMED CHAIR COMMENTATOR TO CRITICIZE WITHOUT ASSESSING THE ISSUE IN DETAILS. WE MUST ASK QUESTIONS SUCH AS WHAT WAS THE FACE MASK MOTORBIKE RIDERS DOING AT THE POLLING STATION. WHAT WAS THEIR PURPOSE AND INTENTION. WE ALL KNOW IN THE PAST THAT SOME GHANAIANS WERE BEATEN AT ATIWA, CHIRIPONI AND OTHER PLACE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. THE GANGSTERS ARE ALWAYS SENT BY SOME EVIL POLITICIANS TO CAUSE THE MAYHEM FOR THEM. HON, HAWA PREVENTED A REPETITION OF SUCH INCIDENTS. DO YOU THINK THAT THE MP HAWA WAS SO RECKLESS TO FIRE A WARNING SHOT WITHOUT BEING THREATENED. HAS SHE BEEN EVER ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENCE. SHE IS NEVER KNOWN TO BE PROVOCATIVE NOR A THREAT TO PEACE IN SPEECH AND IN ACTION. I AM SERIOUSLY VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THOSE WHO HAVE CRITICIZED HER. DO THEY WANT HER TO BE ATTACKED AND HURT SO THAT THEY CAN BLAME EC FOR THE REGISTRATION WHEN WE ALL KNOW THAT WE CANNOT DO AWAY WITH THE REGISTRATION AND THE ELECTIONS. FOR HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE NOT HEARD FROM MAHAMA AND MANY TOP NDC OFFICIALS AND OTHERS LIKE BERNARD MONA THAT THERE COULD BE NO REGISTRATION EVEN TO THE POINT OF SHEDDING BLOOD. UNFORTUNATELY THOSE TALKING TODAY NEVER SAW THE WISDOM TO CONDEMN SUCH VIOLENT UTTERANCES. NOW THE NDC FOOT SOLDIERS ARE EMBOLDENED TO EXECUTE WHAT THEIR MASTER'S KEEP TRUMPETING. IT IS SAD THAT WE DONT CRITICIZE THE BEATING OF WAR DRUMS BUT WE DO IT TO THOSE WHO PREVENT THEMSELVES FROM THEIR ATTACKS. IT IS DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR SUCH CRITICISM NOW FROM HIGH PERSONALITIES AND GROUPS LIKE KWESI ANING, CODEO, REV. EMMANUEL ASANTE, MPS AND OTHERS, WHEN WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM ANY STRONG CONDEMNATION AGAINST THE REPEATED CALL OF VIOLENCE TO MEET THE REGISTRATION. IF FOR ANYTHING HAWA MUST BE PRAISED FOR ACTING TO PREVENT GHANA TO BE IN THE FOREIGN MEDIA FOR A BAD NEWS. AFTER ALL SHE DID NOT AIM THE GUN AT ANYBODY TO INJURE ANY PERSON? SHE ONLY PROTECTED HERSELF AND OTHERS TO SPARE EC, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE NATION FROM THE LITANY OF NDC BLAME FOR WHAT THEY HAVE WISHED. IT IS SAD THAT PEOPLE SIT IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOMES AND CRITICIZE THE HARD WORKING WOMAN IN THE FIELD TO MONITOR THE REGISTRATION. NONE OF SUCH PEOPLE HAVE GONE OUT TO ANY OF THE HOT SPOTS LIKE KASOA TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ON THE GROUND. EVEN A SIMPLE KEEN MONITORING FROM THE MEDIA CAN TELL ANYONE THAT KASOA SINCE DAY ONE OF THE REGISTRATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE NEWS FOR VIOLENCE AND MISUNDERSTANDING. I WILL PLEAD WITH HAWA TO BEEF UP HER PERSONAL SECURITY THE NEXT TIME SHE IS OUT. THE POLICE MUST ALSO INTENSIFY THEIR SURVEILLANCE AT KASOA AND ANY OTHER HOT SPOTS TO PREVENT THE BLOOD SHED TRUMPETED BY THE ENEMIES OD DEMOCRACY.
Npp supporters are seriously not normal so because she was suspicious she could open fire so anybody can open fire at any time when something is not properly done or what is npp supporters saying I don't get it oh if that is de case I advised everybody who have a gun to carry it to any registeration center and if anybody attacked you just fire warning shot is that de argument of npp what a shame and we claimed to have a president who cherish rule of law but can't act actually I think he even bought the guns for all those going around harassing registrants in all the various registeration centers because he is only concern about retaining power but since God is alive he will fail woefully, wicked leaders
Thank you Awal Ahmed. Hon. Hawa Koomsoon is not a child. She is certainly not out of her mind. Actions create reactions. She did not go there shooting people. Something happened that threatened her life and she responded accordingly. If her vehicle was smashed and some unscrupulous folks attacked hurt or even killed her, what we people like Kesi Pratt say? I am so proud of her that she fired a WARNING shot to scare her attackers. What we should be calling for is an investigation into the matter so as to uncover the reason behind her action. Only when the findings have come out can we judge. For now, it is unwise to do so. Let us remember that stories like this one have two sides. Hon. Hawa Koomson should not be judged right away just because she is a minister.
Uncle Kwesi Pratt, you have been a journalist for many years describing the minister going on a shooting spree is exaggeration.One gun shot cannot never be a shooting spree.Also get her to explain her side of the story.