NDC’s Dr Hanna Bissiw walks off live TV show, says NPP panelist isn't at her level

Dr Hanna Louisa Bissiw, the National Women’s Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), left a live television programme after being paired with someone she considered not her equal. A video of the dramatic development has sparked reactions online, with some Ghanaians condemning her action, describing it as condescending.

During the Tuesday, 2 July edition of the Joy Prime breakfast show, Dr Bissiw was set to discuss national issues alongside Hajia Safia Mohammed, a deputy women’s organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). However, Dr Bissiw opted to leave the show after objecting to the decision by the media house to pair her with someone other than Kate Gyamfua, the Women’s Organiser of the NPP.

Dr Bissiw explained that she had believed the discussion would be between the heads of the women’s wings of both major political parties, rather than a ‘mismatch’ with the second in command of the NPP’s women’s wing.

Before departing from the live show, Dr Bissiw apologised to the NPP representative, the members of the NDC, and the station for her actions. She expressed her willingness to participate in future programmes if her counterpart, Kate Gyamfua, was also present.

“Unfortunately, this morning, I will disappoint you and your station. With a lot of respect to the Deputy Women’s Organiser of the NPP, I was told that I was going to meet with my counterpart, Kate Gyamfua,” Dr Bissiw stated. “I do have two able deputies who could have equally come, but it wasn’t until I got here this morning that I discovered that I was meeting with the deputy national women’s organiser.”

Dr Bissiw continued, “So I want to apologise to my followers, my political party, and to your viewers that I will not be able to partake in a programme where I wasn’t informed who I was going to meet. Anytime and any day that my colleague, the National Women Organiser of the NPP, is present, I shall be present. Next time, if it’s the deputies coming, I have two deputies who can represent me.”

This incident has sparked discussions on the importance of clear communication and appropriate representation in political dialogues.