Hawa Koomson promises pepper spray for women if elected NPP Women’s Organiser (Video)

New Patriotic Party (NPP) Women’s Organiser hopeful Hawa Koomson has pledged to provide women with pepper spray and training in personal safety if elected to the position.

Addressing a women’s group, the former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East questioned why women who carry pepper spray in Ghana are sometimes perceived as preparing for confrontations, arguing that the item could help protect them against attacks.

“In abroad, pepper spray is given out for free, and people carry it everywhere in their bags. So why is it that in Ghana, when a woman is given pepper spray, people say she is going to fight?” she asked.

Madam Koomson cited an incident at Ablekuma North, saying pepper spray had helped save her life.

“But for pepper spray, I would have been dead by now, given the incident at Ablekuma North. The pepper spray was what saved me,” she said.

She pledged to make the item accessible to women if she wins the NPP Women’s Organiser election, arguing that women need practical means of protecting themselves.

“So I’ll make sure every woman has pepper spray when I win,” she said.

Madam Koomson also referred to the case of a woman who reportedly took an Uber and could have been harmed, using it to underscore what she described as the importance of personal safety measures.

“A lady picked an Uber, but for pepper spray, she would have been harmed. So it is important,” she said.

Beyond distributing pepper spray, she promised to teach women to be confident and courageous while maintaining respect for others.

“I will give it to you and teach you bravery,” she said.

She added that courage should not be confused with disrespect, stressing that women could stand up for themselves without being rude.

“I am brave but respectful, because being brave doesn’t mean you should be disrespectful,” Madam Koomson said.

Her pledge forms part of her appeal to women as she seeks to become the NPP’s next Women’s Organiser.

Also read:

• Hawa Koomson breaks silence on pepper spray incident at Ablekuma North rerun

• Woman screams in pain after ‘police pepper-sprayed her’ at EOCO headquarters (video)