Court convicts 8 for assault on Ex-Minister Hawa Koomson
Electoral Violence Case: Eight Convicted, Sentencing Set for August 29
Elohim Nyame 
Eight individuals who physically assaulted former Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson, and two others during the Ablekuma North re-run elections have been convicted by an Accra Circuit Court.
The accused — Mohammed Abubakar, a private security officer; Jijani Mahmud, a driver; Prince Dzakpasu, a businessman; Anas Mohammed, an estate developer; Mohammed Hamda, a mechanic; Darko Otibu Samuel, a businessman; Musah Muntari, a station manager; and Ali Saeed, also a businessman — pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime to wit assault, along with three counts of assault.
The presiding judge, Mr Isaac Addo, convicted them on their own pleas but deferred sentencing to Friday, 29 August 2025.
In the meantime, the court granted each of the accused persons bail in the sum of GH₵8,000 with one surety, as they had earlier been placed on police enquiry bail.
The case stems from violent incidents recorded during the Ablekuma North parliamentary re-run elections, where political tensions escalated, resulting in physical attacks on Ms Koomson and others. The conviction underscores growing judicial scrutiny of electoral violence in Ghana, a recurring issue that has raised concerns about the safety of candidates and voters during elections.
The sentencing on Friday is expected to set a precedent for how the courts handle politically related assaults, with observers anticipating a strong signal to deter future acts of electoral violence.
Source: GNA
