Sack Jomoro MCE immediately - Concerned Assembly Members to Akufo Addo

The Coalition of Concerned Assembly Members of Jomoro Municipality in Western Region has called on President Akufo-Addo to sack the MCE for the area, Hon. Ernest Kofie to save the municipality from retrogression.

This is the second time President Akufo-Addo has been urged to sack the Jomoro Municipal Chief Executive from office.

It would be recalled that last month the Constituency Chairman and polling station executives demonstrated against the MCE over gross disrespect and called on the President to sack him from office to save the party from losing the Jomoro seat in 2020.

This time around, the call is coming from some Assembly Members.

In a statement issued and signed by the leadership of the coalition, copied to the media, they accused the MCE of giving contracts to family members to the disadvantage of the Assembly.

According to them, this is a conflict of interest.

"Key Assembly projects are being awarded to his cousin (Mr. Nyameke) at an inflated cost as a means of compensating him as a result of monies the MCE extorted from his cousin. This we view as total conflict of interest which is against the constitution of Ghana. We are not surprised at the defense put in by his cousin against Hon. Ernest Kofie removal", the statement claimed.

The statement also alleged that the MCE was corrupt who took GHC80,000 from his cousin in away to be given to the Assembly Members to get him confirmed.

"Not a while ago, one Mr. Nyameke , a cousin to the MCE in an attempt to defend him ( MCE) against the party’s call for his removal, said on radio (HOPE FM) in Jomoro that leading to the confirmation of Hon. Ernest Kofie, he (Mr. Nyameke) gave out GHC 80,000.00 to be shared to Assembly members", the statement alleged.

"We state unequivocally that none of the Assembly members received such amount during that period. We are surprised at this allegation and now aware that Hon. Ernest Kofie used his appointment and the name of the Assembly to extort monies for his personal gains. We also take serious exception to such unguided and malicious comments from his cousin. This expose’ evidently shows how corrupt and deceptive the MCE is. We are therefore, by this release calling on the MCE and his cousin to render an unqualified apology to all Assembly members for dragging our names in the

mud", the statement added.

The statement said the MCE has refused meeting the Assembly Members in-house since the assumption of office.

The statement also said the MCE doesn't respect them and the staff of the Assembly.

"Since his assumption of office as MCE, several attempts to have an in – house meeting to discuss issues pertaining to his numerous problems, party organization at our electoral areas have been in vain. He has no regard for Assembly members, Heads of institution, teachers, nurses, other workers and almost everyone in the municipality and he is making working with him very difficult", the statement said.

The statement revealed that "Notwithstanding his active role in influencing Assembly members not to confirm the first nominee put forward by the President, we thought he (MCE) would offer us quality and opened leadership but rather he has turned his office into Lions’ den of which Assembly members have no access to".

The statement noted that "These actions and inaction of the MCE are having serious repercussions on the fortune of the party in Jomoro. His posturing is driving away key stakeholders in the party that could be of help in 2020".

The statement, is therefore calling on the President to as a matter of urgency sack the MCE from office to save the Assembly from retrogression.

"We are therefore calling on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a matter of urgency to sack Hon. Ernest Kofie (Jomoro MCE) to save Jomoro Municipality from retrogression and the party from falling in 2020", the statement concluded.

Below is the full statement:

PRESS RELEASE BY COALITION OF CONCERNED ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

Our call is not bound out of malice but to save the coffers of Assembly and the nation at large.

We are of the view that the behaviour of the MCE if not removed immediately will lead to the dissipation of the Assembly coffers for family and personal gains.

Our call for his immediate removal is premised of the following stated reasons:

1. Not a while ago, one Mr. Nyameke , a cousin to the MCE in attempt to defend him ( MCE) against the party’s call for his removal, said on radio (HOPE FM) in Jomoro that leading to the confirmation of Hon. Ernest Kofie, he (Mr. Nyameke) gave out GHC 80,000.00 to be shared to Assembly members. We state unequivocally that none of the Assembly members received such amount during that period. We are surprised at this allegation and now aware that Hon. Ernest Kofie used his appointment and the name of the Assembly to extort monies for his personal gains. We also take serious exception to such unguided and malicious comments from his cousin. This expose’ evidently shows how corrupt and deceptive the MCE is. We are therefore, by this release calling on the MCE and his cousin to render an unqualified apology to all Assembly members for dragging our names in the

mud.

2. Key Assembly projects are being awarded to his cousin (Mr. Nyameke) at an inflated cost as a means of compensating him as a result of monies the MCE extorted from his cousin. This we view as total conflict of interest which is against the constitution of Ghana. We are not surprised at the defense put in by his cousin against Hon. Ernest Kofie removal.

As the convection have been over the years, all Assembly members are duly invited to participate in programs that bother on the development of Jomoro and of national interest. However, Hon. Ernest Kofie deliberately refused to invite Assembly members to recent President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo visit to Jomoro Municipality, Half Assini dated July, 23, 2019 as if we were not willing to meet the President. We find this behaviour as unusual and an attempt to sideline Assembly Members in the running of the Assembly.

3. Since his assumption of office as MCE, several attempts to have in – house meeting to discuss issues pertaining to his numerous problems, party organization at our electoral areas have been in vain. He has no regard for Assembly members, Head of institutions, teachers, nurses, other workers and almost everyone in the said municipality and he is making working with him very difficult. Notwithstanding his active role in influencing Assembly members not to confirm the first President nominee, we thought he (MCE) would offer us quality and opened leadership but rather has turned his office into Lions’ den of which Assembly members have no access to.

4. Lastly, Hon. Ernest Kofie has brought the name of the party and the Assembly into disrepute in regards to the handling of the Premix Fuel Community Fund. He has single handedly put all development funds into single account and has assigned a family member to supply building materials to the various committees at inflated prices. This issue has caused a considerable disaffection for the party and the President among the fishing communities in Jomoro Municipality.

These actions and inactions of the MCE are having serious repercussions on the fortune of the party in Jomoro. His posturing is driving away key stakeholders in the party that could be of help in 2020.

We are therefore calling on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a matter of urgency sack Hon. Ernest Kofie (Jomoro MCE) to save Jomoro Municipality from retrogression and party from falling in 2020.

Signed!

Hon. Acquah Andrew

Convener/Assembly Member of Sowodadzem, Amokwawsuazo and Old Ankasa electoral area

Tel: 0244772296 /0201612023

Hon Alu Boah

Secretary/Assembly Member of Bawia, Ebonloa, Mbem and Nvelenu electoral area

Tel: 0540539900