The Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG) has indicated that President Akufo-Addo should dismiss the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Sekondi-Takoradi, Abdul Mumin Issah.
According to ChaLoG, President Akufo-Addo engaged in illegality by suspending Abdul Mumin Issah and not dismissing him.
“There is no where and there is no law backing the action that has been taken by the President by suspending the Chief Executive. The best or worst the President can do is to sack him. If the President does not intend to sack him and he wants to allow the judicial process to conclude, then the President should have just been quiet on the issue. It is an illegality the President has perpetuated by purportedly suspending the MMDCE.”
Dr. Richard Fiadomor
President of ChaLoG, Dr. Richard Fiadomor explained that per the laws, President Akufo-Addo can only sack the MCE in a situation like this and not suspend him.
“In as much as we condemn in no uncertain terms the conduct or if you like, the misconduct of the MCE for Sekondi Takoradi, we also do not think that the President has the locus standi to suspend the MCE from office.”
Dr. Richard Fiadomor
According to Dr. Fiadormor, in Article 242(1) of Ghana’s Constitution, it is clear that the President is supposed to nominate an MMDCE and once that is done, it is the assembly members, by two thirds majority present and voting that confirms the President’s nominee.
The ChaLoG President further explained that immediately that confirmation is done the only thing the President can do is to revoke or sack an MMDCE, “nothing less, nothing more”.
“The nominee or the MCE is now a member of the STMA General Assembly and it is only the General Assembly that can state and suspend the MMDCE because the MMDCE after he has been confirmed becomes bonafide member of the Assembly.”
Dr. Richard Fiadomor
Takoradi MCE’s suspension
Abdul Mumin Issah was suspended from office with immediate effect. This follows an altercation between the MCE and a policeman, in which the MCE was said to have assaulted the policeman after having engaged in dangerous driving. He was subsequently arrested and arraigned. However, he has been granted bail.
In a letter signed by the Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Daniel Botwe, he indicated that the move to suspend the MCE has become necessary for an inquiry into his encounter with the police on February 3, 2022.
The letter stated that without prejudice to the matter now before court, Government takes a very dim view of the comments made by the Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer during his exchanges with the Police.
“The comments by the Chief Executive Officer run contrary to the government’s belief and work to ensure that our security agencies and indeed Public Agencies are resourced, empowered and accorded the respect to deliver on their mandates.”
Daniel Botwe
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has been assigned to supervise the Metropolitan Assembly in the interim.
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