The Minority in Parliament has criticised senior officials in President John Dramani Mahama’s administration for allegedly endorsing and celebrating violence during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun.
In a statement signed by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the group pointed to public remarks by Dr Hanna Louisa Bissiw and Malik Basintale as “grotesque” and “fundamentally incompatible with democratic governance”.
Dr Bissiw, who is the National Women’s Organiser of the NDC and CEO of the Minerals Development Fund, was singled out for her comment that “violence begets violence.”
The Minority said this statement “suggested that the brutal attacks were somehow justified.”
Even more controversial was a Facebook post by Malik Basintale, Acting CEO of the Youth Employment Agency and Deputy National Communications Officer of the NDC.
According to the statement, Basintale allegedly praised the man who assaulted Hawa Koomson, calling him “the Flying Python” and joking he would lead a fictional “5K Airforce.”
“This grotesque celebration of violence against a former Member of Parliament represents a new low in Ghana’s political discourse,” the Minority declared.
Calling on President Mahama to act, the Minority stated: “The President cannot remain silent while members of his government celebrate violence against opposition figures.
“His response will define his legacy and determine whether Ghana continues on the path of democratic governance or slides toward the normalisation of political violence.”