Phyllis Naa Koryoo Reveals Three Alleged Assassination Attempts, Says She Wore Bulletproof Vest While Breastfeeding

By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi & Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
29 OCTOBER 2026

The Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor, has recounted what she describes as a difficult and dangerous journey into parliamentary politics, revealing that she allegedly survived three assassination attempts and wore a bulletproof vest for eight months while breastfeeding her child because of security concerns.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) legislator said her political journey was marked by threats, intimidation, public criticism and personal sacrifices, particularly during the 2020 and 2024 general election periods.

Speaking at a Women’s Leadership Breakfast in Accra on October 27, 2026, organised by Olori Ivie Atuwatse III, Queen Consort of Nigeria’s Warri Kingdom, as part of the Elevate Africa gathering, Ms Okunor reflected on the challenges she encountered while pursuing her ambition of becoming a Member of Parliament.

Despite the difficulties, she said she refused to abandon her political aspirations, encouraging women seeking leadership positions to remain persistent even when faced with intimidation and setbacks.

“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 recounted.

Her account highlights the personal cost she says she paid to remain active in politics, while raising broader questions about the safety of political actors and the challenges women can encounter when seeking public office.

Eight months in a bulletproof vest while breastfeeding

One of the most striking revelations from Ms Okunor’s account was her claim that she wore a bulletproof vest for eight months while breastfeeding her child.

According to the MP, she resorted to wearing the protective equipment because she feared for her safety amid the threats and attacks she said she experienced during her political journey.

The prolonged use of the vest, she explained, came with considerable physical discomfort, particularly pain in her back after removing it.

“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 said.

Her experience, as she described it, involved balancing the demands of motherhood with the security concerns associated with pursuing political office.

The revelation also brought attention to the additional pressures that women may face when political responsibilities overlap with pregnancy, breastfeeding and childcare.

Although the MP shared her account publicly, the details of the alleged assassination attempts and the circumstances that led her to wear the vest have not been independently established by the reports available.

MP recounts arrest before the 2024 general elections

Ms Okunor also revisited her arrest ahead of Ghana’s 2024 general elections, describing it as another difficult episode in her political career.

She said she was arrested after a licensed firearm was found in her vehicle. According to her account, the issue arose from a discrepancy between her identification documents and the firearm licence following its renewal.

The MP alleged that a police officer had omitted one letter from her name during the renewal process, resulting in a mismatch in the documentation.

“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 said.

She further claimed that the incident attracted considerable public attention and that then-opposition leader John Dramani Mahama cancelled an important meeting to address the matter at a press conference before her release.

Her account offers her perspective on the circumstances surrounding the arrest. However, the explanation regarding the licensing discrepancy and the full circumstances of the detention would require confirmation from relevant official records to establish the complete picture.

Recalling violence during the 2024 election period

The MP also spoke about an alleged gunpoint attack during the 2024 election period, claiming that the incident resulted in one death and left other people with severe, life-changing injuries.

“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 comments revisit the violence and security concerns associated with the election period in Awutu Senya East, a constituency that has featured prominently in discussions about politically related violence.

The MP’s account raises important questions about the safety of candidates, their supporters and members of the public during election campaigns.

However, her remarks alone do not establish who was responsible for the alleged attacks or the precise circumstances surrounding the reported death and injuries. Those details should be assessed against official investigations and other independently verified evidence.

A call to women aspiring to leadership

Beyond recounting her experiences, Ms Okunor used the occasion to encourage women who aspire to leadership positions not to allow difficulties to end their ambitions.

Her message was centred on resilience, persistence and the importance of continuing to pursue one’s goals despite criticism, setbacks and personal challenges.

She urged women to recognise that the journey to leadership may not always be straightforward, but difficult experiences should not automatically be interpreted as a reason to give up.

Her appeal comes amid continuing conversations about women’s participation in politics and the obstacles that can affect their ability to compete for elected office and serve in leadership roles.

For women entering politics, the challenges may extend beyond campaigning and winning elections to include personal security, public scrutiny, family responsibilities and the pressure of operating in highly competitive political environments.

Ms Okunor’s account illustrates the challenges she says she faced personally, although the extent to which her experience reflects the circumstances of other women in Ghanaian politics will vary.

What her revelations mean for political safety in Ghana

The MP’s account has renewed attention on the importance of protecting people involved in Ghana’s democratic process.

Political competition is an essential part of democracy, but threats and violence, where established, can undermine the ability of candidates and supporters to participate freely.

Ensuring that political actors can campaign and serve without fear requires effective security arrangements, impartial investigations into alleged attacks and accountability where wrongdoing is established.

It is also important that allegations involving serious crimes are investigated thoroughly, with findings communicated transparently to the public.

For women in particular, efforts to encourage greater political participation must be accompanied by practical measures that support their safety and enable them to pursue leadership without intimidation.

Ms Okunor’s decision to share her story provides an opportunity to examine these concerns while distinguishing between her personal account and facts that require independent verification.

Conclusion

Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor’s account of allegedly surviving three assassination attempts and wearing a bulletproof vest while breastfeeding offers a sobering description of the personal sacrifices she says accompanied her journey into Parliament.

Her message to women aspiring to leadership was clear: setbacks, criticism and difficult circumstances should not necessarily bring their ambitions to an end.

As discussions about women’s representation and political safety continue, her revelations place renewed focus on the need for a political environment in which people can pursue public service without threats or violence.