{
  "id": 12815032,
  "title": "Even if we have to get license for pepper spray, we’ll – Hawa Koomson",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/even-if-we-have-to-get-license-for-pepper-spray-well-hawa-koomson",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T06:51:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/even-if-we-have-to-get-license-for-pepper-spray-well-hawa-koomson/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mavis Hawa Koomson, the National Women’s Organiser for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is advocating for the legalization of pepper spray in Ghana to empower women for personal protection. Speaking on Adom FM’s Burning Issues, Madam Koomson shared her own experience during a violent parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North, which reinforced her belief that women should have access to a self-defence tool. She stated, “With what happened in Ablekuma North, I would have died if not for pepper spray.” Madam Koomson has been carrying pepper spray for years as a personal safety measure, unaware of her possession among those around her, including security personnel. She emphasized the incident at Ablekuma North to illustrate the necessity of self-protection when facing danger. “Even the police in Ablekuma North didn’t know I had it on me,” she added. Drawing from practices in other countries, Madam Koomson argued that pepper spray is provided as a personal safety item, noting, “Abroad, we give it to people for safety.” She called on the government to consider formally permitting its use, stating that she would comply with any regulatory requirements. “If we have to get a license for pepper spray, we will. The government should legalise the use of pepper spray,” she concluded. This stance echoes a proposal she made during her campaign for the NPP National Women’s Organiser position, where she pledged to make pepper spray available to NPP women along with personal-safety training, emphasizing its role as a protective tool rather than a means of confrontation. Madam Koomson’s experience during the Ablekuma North rerun, where she used pepper spray in self-defence in July 2025, solidified her position. She has previously described this action as self-defence, maintaining that her proposal is intended to assist women in safeguarding themselves in potentially hazardous situations.",
  "summary": "New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Women’s Organiser, Mavis Hawa Koomson, is calling for the legalisation of pepper spray in Ghana to enable women to carry it for personal protection. Speaking on Adom FM’s Burning Issues, Madam Koomson said her personal experience during the violent Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun had strengthened her belief that women should […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "I am peaceful; I just don’t allow people to intimidate me – Hawa Koomson (Video)",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/i-am-peaceful-i-just-dont-allow-people-to-intimidate-me-hawa-koomson",
        "published": "2026-10-08T06:46:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}