Tema Central MP denies assault allegation against Ebi Bright’s driver over Common Fund dispute

Tema Central Member of Parliament, Charles Forson, has denied allegations that he assaulted the driver of Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Ebi Bright, during an attempt to contact him over development projects in the municipality.

The MP’s response follows claims made by the MCE before Parliament’s Local Government and Rural Development Committee that Mr Forson had declined to engage with her or the assembly after she refused to approve the release of his share of the District Assemblies Common Fund.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr Forson dismissed the allegation and accused the MCE 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.

“She knows what she's up to. Come to Tema. She is destroying almost everybody's property, everybody's businesses. To her, her office is to micromanage everything, including my office as an MP,” he said.

Mr Forson maintained that his responsibilities as a legislator are separate from those of the MCE as head of the metropolitan assembly, particularly regarding the administration and use of the MP’s share of the Common Fund.

“Our fiduciary duties are separate, are absolutely different. I'm a lawmaker, but I also have an obligation to do projects for my constituents, and the MP's Common Fund. She doesn't have any control over it,” he said.

The Tema Central MP further alleged that documents submitted to the MCE’s office for pre-approval of projects to be funded from his allocation had remained unsigned, preventing them from being forwarded to the relevant department for processing and payment.

“From last year, February or March, all memos sent to her office for pre-approval to be sent to the other department for processing, so that they will pay, she's never appended her signature to them. A year and seven months,” he alleged.

Mr Forson’s comments come amid growing disagreement between his office and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly over the handling of projects and the release of funds intended for development initiatives in the constituency.