I don’t feel sorry for Hawa Koomson one bit – Hanna Bissiw-Kotei

Administrator of the Minerals Development Fund (MDF), Dr. Hanna Louisa Bissiw-Kotei, has reacted strongly to the assault on former Awutu Senya East MP, Mavis Hawa Koomson, during the parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North on Friday, July 11.

Hawa Koomson was attacked by unidentified thugs at the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station, where she was reportedly kicked and beaten in a violent incident that caused chaos and led to the temporary suspension of voting.

Speaking to the media at the Ateco polling station, Dr. Bissiw condemned election-related violence in general but made it clear that she had no personal sympathy for the former MP. She justified her stance by accusing Hawa Koomson of being behind several violent incidents in the past, including alleged attacks on members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and on herself.

“I condemn violence but please don’t ask me to feel sorry for Hawa Koomson because I would be lying before you and before God. I don’t feel sorry one bit,” Dr. Bissiw stated.

She went on to accuse Koomson of orchestrating violent attacks, including incidents during the 2020 elections.

“Go and ask her if she deserves it. And also, I am a victim of Hawa Koomson. Ask her if I deserved the men she brought to come and attack me. Ask her about the people that were shot and killed at Kasoa, the NDC organizer that died. Go and ask her about the gun that she shot and people died—did they deserve it?” she questioned.

Dr. Bissiw claimed that during a past election in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, she was physically assaulted due to the actions of Hawa Koomson and her associates.

“I was beaten because she led thugs to come and beat me up. Has she forgotten?” she added.

While making it clear that she does not condone political violence, Dr. Bissiw implied that the attack on Hawa Koomson may have come from within her own party rather than from the NDC.

“Nobody sent anyone to go and beat her. As far as I am concerned, it may even be an internal something that they visited on her,” she speculated.

Dr. Bissiw insisted that the NDC remains committed to a peaceful electoral process and has no reason to resort to violence.

“This is very peaceful. We are taking the day, and we do not have any need to destroy the elections because we are winning,” she said.

Although the rerun in Ablekuma North has been largely peaceful, there have been notable incidents of violence, including assaults on journalists and political figures. The attack on Hawa Koomson has added to the tension surrounding the election, which was necessitated by disputes over the results of the December 2024 general election.

Security has since been tightened in the constituency, and the Electoral Commission is continuing efforts to ensure that the rerun concludes peacefully and fairly.