“Violence begets violence” – Hanna Bissiw justifies attack on Hawa Koomson
The CEO of the Minerals Development Fund and National Women’s Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Hanna Louisa Bissiw, has justified the physical assault on former Fisheries Minister, Hawa Koomson, during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun, stating that “violence begets violence.”
Her remarks follow a violent incident at the St. Peter’s Society polling station in the constituency, where Hawa Koomson and the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary candidate, Nana Akua Afriyie, were reportedly attacked by unidentified men during the rerun in 19 polling stations.
Speaking to Channel One TV’s Fauzu Masawudu, Dr. Bissiw argued that Hawa Koomson’s past involvement in election-related violence made the incident unsurprising.
“What didn’t Hawa Koomson do? What I’m trying to say is that violence begets violence. If you live by the sword, you’ll die by the sword,” she said.
Dr. Bissiw also recounted a previous encounter with Koomson, alleging that she herself had been a victim of violence orchestrated by the former minister.
“I was beaten because she led thugs to come and beat me up. Has she forgotten?” she claimed, referencing an incident she said occurred at a polling station in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency.
While Dr. Bissiw distanced the NDC from the attack, she speculated that it might have stemmed from within the NPP’s own ranks.
“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 suggested.
Despite her comments, Dr. Bissiw emphasised that the NDC had no interest in fomenting violence and insisted that the party remained focused on a peaceful electoral process.
“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 added.
The Ablekuma North rerun was organised by the Electoral Commission to resolve disputes from the December 2024 parliamentary election and restore parliamentary representation to the constituency.
