Tema Central MP details disputes with Ebi Bright amid assault allegation

Tema Central MP Charles Forson has opened up about a series of disagreements with Tema Mayor Ebi Bright, citing disputes over building permits, access to his statutory Common Fund allocations and an alleged attempt to send him chocolate.

Mr Forson said the issues had contributed to tensions between him and the mayor, but explained that he had largely refrained from speaking publicly about their disagreements because of his respect for women.

He made the disclosure on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, while responding to an allegation that he assaulted the mayor’s driver.

“All I know is that, in my upbringing, I respect women so much, for which reason, she does so many things, I’m always quiet and mute over it,” he said.

According to the MP, one of the disagreements began several months ago when he secured permits from the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to construct first-aid centres in the constituency.

He said his plan was to construct about 11 centres and that permits had initially been obtained for the first three projects.

Mr Forson alleged that after construction work had begun, the mayor questioned the authenticity of the permits, despite the documents having been issued by the assembly.

“From the assembly itself, we dug, we did the foundation, only for her to come and say that the permits, which were issued by the assembly, paid for with my own money, were fake,” he said.

He claimed an engineer later informed the mayor that the permits were genuine.

Common Fund dispute

The MP also alleged that his relationship with the mayor had been affected by a separate disagreement involving the processing of statutory funds allocated to his office.

According to Mr Forson, the mayor had refused to sign memos required for the release of the funds, which he said had remained in the account since he assumed office.

“She is saying that she will never append her signature on the memo,” he said.

Mr Forson said he had since petitioned the Minister of Local Government over the matter and was awaiting action.

He further recounted what he described as an unusual incident involving the mayor’s driver, who allegedly came to his office carrying chocolate on her behalf.

The MP said he declined the chocolate because he was uncertain about the purpose of the gesture.

Denies assault allegation

Mr Forson strongly rejected the allegation that he physically or verbally assaulted the mayor’s driver.

“No. Physically? Verbally? No. Why would I do it?” he said.

He said his only known interaction with the driver was during the incident in which the man visited his office with the chocolate.

The MP also said he had not been contacted by the leadership of Parliament regarding the allegation, despite the mayor’s claim that she had reported the matter to parliamentary authorities.

Mr Forson maintained that he had deliberately avoided publicly discussing his disagreements with the mayor until the assault allegation emerged.

He said he considered the allegation serious enough to warrant a response, particularly because he believed it was false.

“I'm talking because of the assault. The blatant lie that she’s trying to sell out there,” he said.