The Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor, has responded to claims by Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak that she denied any attack on her convoy during the 2024 elections in Kasoa.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, November 6, 2025, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP clarified that she never stated no attack occurred, contrary to the minister’s briefing on Tuesday, November 4.
The minister had reported that Ms Okunor denied knowledge of the violence, which left one person dead and several injured, and claimed she was nowhere near the scene.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, the MP recounted her experience on election day while insisting that the full investigation will reveal the true facts.
“I have remained quiet despite calls by well-meaning Ghanaians, including my constituents who witnessed these brutal attacks. At no time did I say no attack happened. I stated emphatically to the task force that on election day, during my rounds, I noticed my convoy was being followed by a V8 vehicle allegedly known to be used by Hawa Koomson and a NADMO pickup which had a green government number plate,” she recalled.
“After visiting some polling stations, I decided to go home because I felt my life was in danger. So, I am convinced that at the conclusion of this investigation, the truer facts will emerge,” she affirmed.
The MP’s remarks come amid ongoing probes by a Special Investigation Task Force inaugurated by the Inspector General of Police on January 16, 2025, under the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
During his public update, the minister revealed that the task force examined 12 cases of election-related violence from the 2020 and 2024 polls, resulting in 15 deaths and over 40 injuries nationwide.
In his briefing, Mr Muntaka disclosed that investigations into the Kasoa incident confirmed the death of Yusif Larri Idriss from a gunshot wound, with the driver of the involved Mahindra pickup traced for further questioning.
He noted that Ms Okunor had denied the convoy attack and her proximity to the scene, a claim that has sparked controversy given a resurfaced December 8, 2024, interview where she described being chased by a V8 vehicle during polling rounds.
The minister also noted the refusal of some persons of interest to speak to the committee, but Ms Okunor attributed the reluctance of eyewitnesses and victims to testify to factors beyond her control and highlighted available videos of some attacks to aid the committee’s work.
“There are videos to some of these attacks and these are available for the committee to aid their work. Friends of the media, does the unwillingness of eyewitnesses and victims to testify mean these documented acts of killings didn’t happen? Even if there are records of loss of life and injuries,” she questioned.
“I would have waited for the investigations to conclude before speaking. But I cannot keep quiet over an inconclusive report as clearly stated by our honourable Minister for Interior during his press briefing,” she expressed, labelling the report as inconclusive.
The MP also revealed she has not yet submitted a written statement to the police due to “ill-treatment during the 2020 election violence,” adding that media attributions of denial were inaccurate and not hers.
Ms Okunor defeated former Fisheries Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson in the 2024 elections amidst allegations of attacks linked to supporters of the former MP.
Meanwhile, Hawa Koomson has since thanked Mr Muntaka for the revelations and accused Ms Okunor of spreading falsehoods that damaged her reputation.