The Minority in Ghana’s Parliament has called for the immediate dismissal of Dr. Hanna Louisa Bisiw-Kotei, National Women’s Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and CEO of the Minerals Development Fund, and Malik Basintale, Acting CEO of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), for allegedly endorsing violence during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on July 11, 2025.
The condemnation follows violent incidents at St. Peter’s Methodist Church polling station, where former Fisheries Minister Hawa Koomson and others, including journalists, were reportedly assaulted, temporarily disrupting the voting process.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on July 16, 2025, Atiwa West MP Laurette Korkor Asante, representing the Minority, described the officials’ remarks as a “new low” in Ghana’s political discourse, arguing they undermine democratic governance.
The Minority highlighted Bisiw-Kotei’s statement, “violence begets violence,” made in a media interview, and Basintale’s Facebook post referring to an individual involved in the incident as the “Flying Python” who would lead a fictional “5K Airforce,” as inflammatory and justifying the attacks.
The Minority demanded that President John Dramani Mahama dismiss both officials to demonstrate that his administration does not condone political violence.
They argued that the comments embolden lawlessness and threaten Ghana’s constitutional order, particularly as Bisiw-Kotei and Basintale hold senior roles promoting women’s empowerment and youth welfare.
The caucus also called for a public apology from Mahama to victims, including Koomson, and urged the Ghana Police Service to expedite arrests and prosecutions while providing daily updates on the investigation.
The Ablekuma North rerun, held across 19 polling stations to resolve irregularities from the December 2024 elections, saw the NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn win by 209 votes, securing a historic two-thirds parliamentary majority for the NDC.
The Minority’s demands reflect growing concerns over electoral violence, with calls for accountability to safeguard Ghana’s democratic integrity.
