Minister bans KMA presiding member for insulting mayor

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Akwasi Oppong-Fosu has banned Nana Kofi Seya, the Presiding Member for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) from all activities of the Ministry.

Mr. Oppong-Fosu said the Presiding Member openly hurled "unprintable words" at the KMA Chief Executive, in an altercation between the two officials of the Assembly.

"I was with the Chief Executive of KMA when an incident occurred between him and his officials on one hand and the presiding member over the signing of a document...the presiding member flared up and used all kinds of unprintable words and was physically restrained from going beyond the words that he was using on the Chief Executive," Mr. Oppong-Fosu told Joy News.

According to the minister, no matter the extent of the provocation, Mr. Seya ought to have demonstrated "modest temperaments".

Nana Kofi Seya is reported to have apologised to the mayor and the minister over his unruly behavior, but Mr. Oppong Fosu insists "that is not enough".

He said his outfit will not tolerate acts of gross disrespect from any staff of the assembly, "so long as I remain the Minister" of Local Government and Rural Development.

"He has apologised though but I don't think that's enough...the ban will remain in force," the minister stressed.