Suspend Hawa Koomson – Some Kasoa residents petition Parliament
A group calling itself the Concerned Citizens of Kasoa in the Awutu Senya East Constituency have petitioned Parliament over the conduct of their legislator during the violence at a voter registration center in the area.
The residents argue that their MP, Mavis Hawa Koomson engaged in acts of violence and dishonesty after she fired a gun at the Steps to Christ registration center.
In a petition presented to the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, the group said that the suspension will allow security agencies to proceed with investigations regarding her use of a firearm at the registration center in Kasoa.
According to the group, the MP is hiding behind the parliamentary privileges to engage in unlawful acts.
“She is abusing parliamentary immunity by engaging in acts she would not dare do if she was not being covered by an immunity against security agencies arrest.
“The parliamentary privileges offering members of parliament immunity against police arrest is not allowing the security agencies uncompromised and free access to arrest her subject to her recent act of violently instigating a group of armed ‘vigilantees’ and hoodlums to fire sophisticated guns and also burning to complete destructions a number of motorbikes belonging to unarmed lawfully citizens who were just present at a polling station to register for their voter’s ID cards,” the petition said.
It added that the suspension will strip the MP of all parliamentary privileges that may hamper ongoing investigations.
“We, therefore, see it as the best decision for your honorable office to take by suspending the MP of Awutu Senya East Constituency so that, the security agencies can freely and professionally apprehend, investigate and prosecute her for the criminal offense she has publicly admitted,” the petition signed by its leader, Usman Yakubu said.
The MP and Minister for Special Development Initiative admitted firing a warning shot during a confrontation between persons believed to be aligned to the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress.
Both parties claimed they were attacked by each other leading to the shooting and subsequent arrest of four persons.
The Cabinet Minister justified her action saying it was in self-defence alleging that some NDC thugs were attempted to attack members of her campaign team.
She has since received the backing of leadership of her party.
In spite of her justification for firing the gun, several individuals and groups such as the National Peace Council have called for her dismissal.
At least three motorbikes belonging to persons who had visited the registration center to register for the new voter ID card had their bikes burnt to ashes.