Tema MCE Alleges Driver Assaulted Amid Dispute with MP Charles Forson
Ebi Bright, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, has alleged that a dispute with Tema Central Member of Parliament Charles Forson has escalated, resulting in the alleged assault of her driver during an attempt to engage the legislator. Ms Bright said the strained relationship had affected coordination between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and the MP, with some projects allegedly being undertaken without adequate consultation and duplicating initiatives planned by the Assembly. Appearing before Parliament’s Local Government and Rural Development Committee, she said several attempts to resolve the disagreement, including interventions by some parliamentary leaders, had been unsuccessful. Ms Bright attributed the breakdown in relations to her decision not to approve the release of the MP’s share of the District Assemblies Common Fund.
Ms Bright said she had made several efforts to meet Mr Forson, including attempts to reach him at Parliament, but alleged that her latest effort resulted in her driver being physically assaulted. “The last of such attempt was met with physical assault on my driver because we tried to reach him at Parliament and we couldn’t reach him,” she said. She added that a subsequent attempt to meet the MP at his residence also failed, after which she sent a package to his office as a gesture of goodwill and an invitation to engage. According to her, a member of her staff was also allegedly assaulted during that process. Ms Bright said the matter had since been brought before parliamentary leadership, which is working to mediate the dispute and restore cooperation between the Assembly and the MP.
