Tema Central MP Charles Forson has denied allegations of assaulting the driver of Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive Ebi Bright. The allegations were made by Ms Bright during a Parliamentary committee hearing, where she claimed that her driver was assaulted during an attempt to engage Mr Forson over development projects in the municipality. Mr Forson, however, attributes the dispute to a broader disagreement over project management and his share of the District Assemblies Common Fund.
According to Mr Forson, the disagreement centres on the management of development projects and the release of his share of the District Assemblies Common Fund. He accused Ms Bright of overstepping her mandate by interfering in the affairs of his office and the management of resources allocated to him as a Member of Parliament. Mr Forson emphasized that his responsibilities as a legislator are separate from those of the MCE, particularly regarding the use of his share of the Common Fund.
Mr Forson alleged that Ms Bright's office has been micromanaging, including his office as an MP, and destroying almost everybody's property and businesses in Tema. He claimed that the MCE's office had not approved projects under his Common Fund allocation, preventing them from being processed for payment. Mr Forson stated that documents submitted to the MCE's office for pre-approval had remained unsigned for over a year.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Ebi Bright, had claimed that attempts to engage Mr Forson over development projects had repeatedly failed, leading to the alleged assault on her driver. The matter is now before Parliament's Local Government and Rural Development Committee, with both sides presenting conflicting accounts of the dispute. Ms Bright had declined to approve the release of Mr Forson's share of the District Assemblies Common Fund over concerns about engagement and coordination on development projects.
Mr Forson maintained that he has an obligation to do projects for his constituents using his share of the Common Fund, which is separate from the MCE's responsibilities. He emphasized that the MCE does not have control over the MP's Common Fund. The disagreement between the two officials has caused tension in the Tema Community One.
The dispute has led to a halt in a project led by the Tema Development Committee (TDC). The Tema Mayor, Ebi Bright, had halted the project, citing concerns over the management of development projects in the municipality. The committee hearing has become a platform for both sides to present their accounts of the dispute.
The outcome of the committee hearing is yet to be determined, but the dispute has highlighted the challenges of coordinating development projects and managing resources between different government officials. The case has also raised concerns about the relationship between MPs and MCEs in Ghana's local government system.
Key points
- Tema Central MP Charles Forson denies allegations of assaulting Tema MCE Ebi Bright's driver.
- The dispute centres on the management of development projects and the release of the MP's share of the District Assemblies Common Fund.
- The matter is now before Parliament's Local Government and Rural Development Committee.
