Minority lawmakers in Parliament are calling for the removal of two public officials over remarks made in response to a violent incident during a recent parliamentary rerun in the Ablekuma North constituency.
The Minority has demanded the immediate dismissal of Dr. Hanna Bisiw-Kotei, Administrator of the Minerals Development Fund, and Malik Basintale, Acting Chief Executive of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA). The lawmakers allege that the two officials made inappropriate and insensitive comments in the wake of an alleged assault on former Fisheries Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson at a polling station on July 11.
Dr. Bisiw-Kotei, however, pushed back forcefully against the demands, characterizing them as politically motivated and unserious.
“Trust me, I think it is the biggest joke of the day. I laughed over the headline when I saw it,” she said in a radio interview with Citi Eyewitness News on Wednesday. “Nobody can force me to sympathize with Hawa Koomson. I am not a hypocrite.”
The dispute centers on the conduct of Dr. Bisiw-Kotei and Mr. Basintale following the chaotic scenes at St. Peter’s Methodist Church polling station during the rerun vote. According to the Minority, the two officials’ public reactions were dismissive of the seriousness of the incident and fell short of the decorum expected of individuals in leadership roles.
Mr. Basintale attracted criticism for a social media post in which he referred to an individual who intervened in the altercation as “Flying Python” and jokingly proposed inducting him into a fictional “5K Airforce.” The Minority labeled the remarks “unacceptable” and claimed they undermine Ghana’s democratic values.
For her part, Dr. Bisiw-Kotei defended her comments, stating that they had been taken out of context. She also claimed to be a “direct victim” of Ms. Koomson’s past political actions and rejected suggestions that she should express solidarity with the former minister.
“I condemn violence, and nobody can ask me to sympathize with a woman who has put so many people through suffering,” she said. “We are focused and working. There is a lot to put in place.”
Both officials have indicated they intend to remain in their roles and continue their work, despite the calls for their removal.
The incident adds to mounting political tension in the lead-up to Ghana’s 2024 general elections, as parties jostle for control and seek to frame narratives around governance and accountability.
