The leadership of the Jomoro Municipal Assembly in the Western Region has said they are solidly behind their Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Ernest Kofie.

Their defence comes as a result of the statement issued by Coalition of Concerned Assembly Members of Jomoro Municipal Assembly demanding the immediate removal of the MCE from office over alleged corrupt practices.

According to the Coalition of Concerned Assembly Members, the MCE has given some contracts to his family members to the disadvantage of the Assembly.

"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 a 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's removal", the statement claimed.

The statement also alleged that the MCE was corrupt and that he took GHC80,000 from his cousin in a way to give to 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 GHC80,000.00 to be shared to Assembly members", the statement alleged.

But in a counter-statement issued and signed on behalf of the Jomoro Municipal Assembly, the Presiding Member (PM), Hon. John Yankey, and copied to the media, it indicated that "Our attention has been drawn to a publication by two Hon. Members of Jomoro Municipal Assembly urging the president to remove the MCE, Hon. Ernest Kofie from office for alleged misconduct".

"In the said publication on Ghanaweb, the Hon. Members sought to create the impression as though the alleged misconduct of the MCE, Hon. Ernest Kofie has been a subject matter for discussion at subcommittee or the general assembly level", the statement emphasized.

"The house wish to state strongly that the alleged misconduct stated by the Hon. Assembly Members has never become a subject matter at any of the sub-committees or committees meetings", the statement added.

The statement stated that "The approach they chose to have the MCE, Hon. Ernest Kofie removed from office is alien to the assembly concept and smack of mischief and diabolic, to say the least".

The statement was convinced that the actions and inaction of the two Assembly Members who were demanding the immediate removal of the MCE, were their personal interest but not the interest of the entire Assembly.

"The house is convinced that the actions and in-action of the two individual assembly members, only point to one conclusion, that they are out to seek for their personal interest and not the interest of the general assembly", the statement said.

"Also, we are satisfied with his conduct and leadership style for the two years that he has been in office and are ready to work with him going forward", the statement added.

"In view of the above, the Assembly wishes to disassociate itself entirely from the publication by the two assembly members", the statement read.

Below is the full statement;

DISASSOCIATION OF JOMORO MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY FROM THE PUBLICATION ON GHANAWEB AUTHORED BY THE TWO HON. MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY( HON. ANDREW ACQUAH AND ALLU BOAH)

Our attention has been drawn to a publication by two Hon. Members of Jomoro Municipal Assembly urging the president to remove the MCE, Hon. Ernest Kofie from office for alleged misconduct.

In the said publication on Ghanaweb, the Hon. Members sought to create the impression as though the alleged misconduct of the MCE, Hon. Ernest Kofie has been a subject matter for discussion at subcommittee or the general assembly level.

The house wishes to state strongly that the alleged misconduct stated by the Hon. Assembly Members has never become a subject matter at any of the sub-committees or committees meetings.

In fact, I can state with a hundred percent confidence level that the alleged misconduct of the MCE has never been discussed at PRCC, the committee that has been clothed with the powers to investigate such matter.

It is imperative to mention that the assembly, like any other institutions works with laws, rules and regulations and standing orders.

The house, therefore, cannot comprehend why the duo failed to petition the PRCC over the alleged misconduct of the MCE but rather chose to go on that tangent.

The approach they chose to have the MCE, Hon. Ernest Kofie removed from office is allien to the assembly concept and smack of mischief and diabolic, to say the least.

The MCE, like any other members of the assembly, is a staff of the assembly and he is subject to the laws that govern the assembly.

The PRCC has the responsibility of investigating any member of the assembly including the MCE. The house is therefore shocked to the bone, why the duo could not petition the PRCC to look into those allegations made against the MCE.

The house is convinced that the actions and in-actions of the two individual assembly members, only point to one conclusion, that they are out to seek for their personal interest and not the interest of the general assembly.

The two Hon. Members know better as to what they should do to have the MCE removed from office if indeed the allegations leveled against him were true.

As far as the assembly is concerned, we are solidly behind the MCE, Hon. Ernest Kofie. We are satisfied with the level of developments he has brought so far to the Municipality.

Also, we are satisfied with his conduct and leadership style for the two years that he has been in office and are ready to work with him going forward.

If any member of the assembly has anything contrary to what the house has observed during the past two years in office, the person should rather petition the PRCC to trigger the necessary disciplinary actions against the MCE and not to resort to baseless publication.

Let me sound a caution that any attempt by any assembly member to have MCE removed from office without going through the due process will be treated with the utmost contempt.

In view of the above, the assembly wishes to disassociate itself entirely from the publication by the two assembly members.

We once again wish to state it without any reservations that the allegations stated in their so-called petition are a figment of their imaginations.

All the allegations raised in the petition from contract handling to the handling of premix fuel were palpably unfounded.

Records available at the assembly do not support their claims. For instance, it has been revealed at the assembly that award of a contract is at the behest of the tender committee and not the MCE.

Finally, we wish to state that the allegations are malicious, baseless and a calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Hon. MCE, Ernest Kofie.

We urge the general public to continue to have confidence in the MCE as he leads the Municipality to the promised land.

Long live Ghana

Long live Jomoro Municipal Assembly.

Long live Hon. Assembly Members.

Signed!

on behalf of Jomoro Municipal Assembly

Hon. John Yankey

Presiding Member (JMA)