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Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hawa Koomson, has been captured on video selling watermelons on the streets of her constituency, Awutu Senya East. The footage, which has quickly gained widespread attention, shows the Member of Parliament (MP) engaging in street hawking as part of her campaign to secure re-election in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
The video, which has gone viral on social media, has sparked a mixed response from the public. Many view the move as a strategic effort by the MP to connect with her constituents at a grassroots level, while others see it as a typical election-season gesture aimed more at garnering votes than genuinely serving the community.
Hawa Koomson, who has served as the MP for Awutu Senya East since 2012, is known for her strong and influential political presence. Her decision to sell watermelons in the streets aligns with a broader trend among Ghanaian politicians, who often engage in symbolic acts of solidarity with the electorate during campaign periods. These acts, which have included cooking, sweeping, and other hands-on activities, are intended to resonate with the everyday lives of voters.
Critics, however, argue that such gestures are often more theatrical than meaningful, questioning whether they have any real impact on the well-being of the communities politicians claim to serve.
This latest incident follows similar actions by other politicians in recent years. Earlier this year, Mike Oquaye Jnr., the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Dome Kwabenya, distributed chocolates and cocoa pods to commuters on the streets of Osu ahead of Valentine’s Day. His actions were seen both as a health campaign and a calculated move to win over voters. Similarly, Sarah Adwoa Safo, former MP for Dome Kwabenya, was spotted serving yoghurt and meat pies to her constituents last year in what many interpreted as an attempt to regain favour after an extended absence from the country.
As Ghana’s election season heats up, such acts of humility by politicians like Hawa Koomson continue to generate public discourse, raising questions about the sincerity and effectiveness of these gestures. Whether her watermelon-selling will help secure her re-election remains to be seen, but it has certainly added a new dimension to the ongoing political intrigue.
