Former Awutu Senya East MP and New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Women’s Organiser hopeful, Mavis Hawa Koomson, says she will ensure women in the party have access to pepper spray if she is elected to the position.
Speaking to women delegates ahead of the NPP’s National Delegates Conference in Kumasi, Hawa Koomson said the initiative would form part of measures to help women protect themselves when confronted with dangerous situations.
She explained that pepper spray should not be viewed as a tool for provoking fights, but rather as a personal safety device. According to her, women should also be properly trained on how to use it responsibly.
Hawa Koomson referred to the violent incident during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun in July 2025, where she was assaulted amid chaos at a polling station. She said the pepper spray she carried during the incident helped her protect herself and claimed that without it, she might not have survived the attack.
“If I am elected, I will make sure every woman has pepper spray and keeps it with her wherever she goes,” she told the gathering, while stressing the importance of personal security and self-defence.
She also cited a recent incident involving a woman who allegedly faced danger after boarding an Uber in Accra, using the case to argue that women should have access to practical tools that can help them respond to threats.
Hawa Koomson further said her proposed approach would go beyond distributing pepper spray, with plans to equip women with personal safety and self-defence training. She described the goal as making women more prepared to protect themselves while still maintaining respect for others. Her comments come as she campaigns for the NPP National Women’s Organiser position ahead of the party’s national elections scheduled for October 3, 2026.
Source: GhanaNsem
