MP Koryoo Breaks Silence On Gun Attack, Mahama’s Intervention

According to a report by Ghana web on Thursday October 29, 2026, Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, has recounted the frightening experiences she endured while pursuing her political ambitions, revealing that she allegedly survived three assassination attempts and wore a bulletproof vest for eight months while breastfeeding her child.

The lawmaker said her journey into Parliament was marked by threats, intimidation, personal sacrifices and moments when she feared for her life.

Despite the challenges, she maintained that she refused to abandon her political aspirations, even when the circumstances surrounding her campaigns became increasingly dangerous.

According to a report by GhanaWeb published on Thursday, October 29, 2026, Koryoo Okunor shared these experiences during the Women’s Leadership Breakfast hosted by Olori Ivie Atuwatse III, Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom in Nigeria. The event was held in Accra on October 27 as part of the Elevate Africa gathering.

Speaking about the difficulties she encountered during the 2020 and 2024 general election periods, the MP disclosed that she had faced three separate incidents in which she believed her life was in danger.

“I was almost killed on three separate occasions. I lost but I didn’t give up. I was called names, I was called a failure, but I didn’t give up,” she said.

Her account highlighted the personal risks she says accompanied her determination to secure a parliamentary seat, particularly as a woman navigating the often challenging environment of Ghanaian politics.

One of the most striking revelations was her decision to wear a bulletproof vest for eight months while continuing to breastfeed her baby. According to the MP, the protective gear became necessary because of the security threats she believed she faced during that period.

She explained that wearing the vest for such an extended period was physically demanding and left her experiencing considerable discomfort.

“Wearing a bulletproof vest for eight months wasn’t easy. When you finish, your back is aching. It is not easy, so my sister, try again and push,” she stated.

The experience, as she described it, required her to balance the demands of motherhood with the challenges of pursuing public office under circumstances that raised serious concerns about her personal safety.

Beyond the alleged assassination attempts, Koryoo Okunor also recounted an incident in which she was arrested ahead of the 2024 general elections after a licensed firearm was found in her vehicle.

She maintained that the arrest resulted from an administrative error involving the renewal of her firearm licence.

According to her, a police officer omitted one letter from her name during the renewal process, creating a discrepancy between the name on her identification documents and the details recorded on the licence.

“Before the election, I was mysteriously arrested. I was arrested because I had a licensed gun in my car.

And what was my offence? My identity card had my name, Naa Koryoo but when it came to the renewal of my licensed gun, the police officer who renewed it omitted one ‘o’. So, apparently, there were two different personalities and I was arrested,” she explained.

The MP said the incident attracted widespread public attention and eventually led to the involvement of then-opposition leader John Dramani Mahama.

According to her account, Mahama cancelled an important engagement to address the matter publicly and call attention to her situation before she was released.

“The whole of Ghana came to a standstill. The President of the Republic of Ghana had to cancel an important meeting to hold a press conference before I was released,” she recounted.

Her reference to Mahama concerned his role at the time, when he was the opposition leader. Koryoo Okunor’s account did not establish that he was connected to the alleged threats or attacks she described.

The lawmaker further recalled a disturbing incident during the 2024 election campaign in which she said she was attacked at gunpoint.

She disclosed that the incident resulted in the death of one person, while others suffered life-changing injuries, including the loss of limbs.

“In 2024, I went, I contested and again, I was almost killed at gunpoint. Unfortunately, I lost one person and I have people whose legs and hands are amputated but Naa Koryoo is still sitting here alive,” she stated.

Her recollection added another dimension to her account of the challenges she says she faced while contesting elections and working to establish herself in Ghana’s political landscape.

Although the MP described the incidents as serious threats to her life, further details about the alleged assassination attempts, the identities of those responsible and the outcomes of any investigations were not established in the reports available.

Koryoo Okunor used the platform to encourage women who aspire to leadership positions not to allow setbacks, criticism or intimidation to discourage them from pursuing their goals.

Drawing from her own experiences, she stressed the importance of perseverance, particularly for women seeking to break through barriers in politics and other areas of public life.

Her revelations have brought renewed attention to concerns about the safety of political candidates and the difficulties women may encounter while seeking elected office.

The allegations also underline the importance of ensuring that political competition remains peaceful and that threats against candidates are properly investigated by the relevant authorities.

For Koryoo Okunor, however, the central message of her account was that the challenges she encountered did not succeed in ending her political ambitions.

Despite the fear, physical discomfort and personal losses she described, the Awutu Senya East MP said she continued her journey towards Parliament, urging other women to remain determined in the face of adversity.

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