Naa Koryoo Reveals 3 Alleged Assassination Attempts in Her Journey to Parliament

The Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, has recounted the challenges she faced on her path to Parliament, including three alleged assassination attempts, an eight-month period of wearing a bulletproof vest while breastfeeding, and her arrest ahead of the 2024 general elections.

The MP said her political journey during the 2020 and 2024 elections was characterised by threats, intimidation and personal sacrifices.

Despite the difficulties, she maintained her determination to pursue her parliamentary ambitions.

Speaking at the Women’s Leadership Breakfast hosted by Olori Ivie Atuwatse III, Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom in Nigeria, during the Elevate Africa gathering in Accra on October 27, 2026, Okunor revealed that she wore a bulletproof vest for eight months while breastfeeding her child because of security concerns.

She explained that wearing the protective gear for such an extended period caused significant physical discomfort, particularly back pain whenever she took it off.

Okunor said the experience tested her physical and emotional resilience but did not weaken her resolve to remain in politics.

She used her experience to encourage women aspiring to leadership positions to persevere despite the obstacles they may encounter.

The MP also recounted her arrest ahead of the 2024 general elections over an alleged discrepancy in the documentation of a licensed firearm found in her vehicle.

According to her account, the incident arose from an error during the renewal of her firearm licence.

She alleged that a police officer omitted one letter from her name on the renewed licence, creating an inconsistency between the document and her identification records.

Okunor said the discrepancy resulted in her arrest, which she described as a difficult experience during an already challenging period in her political career.

She further claimed that the incident attracted widespread public attention and prompted the intervention of then-opposition leader John Dramani Mahama, who allegedly cancelled an important meeting to address the matter at a press conference.

“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. 

Despite spending days in police custody, the MP said she remained committed to her political ambitions, describing the arrest as one of several experiences that tested her determination to serve in public office.

She also recalled an alleged gunpoint attack during the 2024 election period, which she said resulted in the death of one person and left others with severe, life-changing injuries, including amputations.

Okunor described her survival and continued presence in Parliament as a testament to her resilience in the face of the threats and violence she said accompanied her political journey.

Source: https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/8-Months-in-Bulletproof-Vest-Mahama-s-role-3-Assassination-Attempts-MP-Koryoo-on-power-struggles-2058859

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