The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ejisu Municipal Assembly, Jerryne Asante, is facing growing pressure from members of the Assembly, who have given her one week to resign or risk being removed from office by President John Dramani Mahama.
The ultimatum was issued after an attempt by the Assembly Members to convene an emergency meeting to consider a vote of no confidence in the MCE failed to take place.
The planned meeting required the supervision of the Electoral Commission (EC), but the Commission was reportedly unavailable to oversee the process.
The situation was further complicated when Assembly Members arrived at the auditorium designated for the meeting and found the facility locked.
The Assembly Members claimed that Estate Officers told them the keys had been taken away after the MCE’s personal aide allegedly locked the auditorium, effectively preventing the emergency meeting from proceeding.
The failed meeting has heightened tensions between the MCE and the Assembly Members, who say their concerns about her administration remain unresolved.
According to the Assembly Members, their attempt to initiate a vote of no confidence was driven by what they described as serious administrative lapses under the leadership of the MCE.
After the meeting was aborted, the Assembly Members addressed the media to explain the circumstances surrounding the development and outline their next steps.
Speaking on behalf of the group, George Kuntu Blankson, Assembly Member for the Kwamo Electoral Area, said all 28 elected Assembly Members had agreed to give the MCE a one-week deadline to resign.
He further appealed to President Mahama to intervene and remove the MCE if she fails to step down voluntarily at the end of the ultimatum.
According to Mr Blankson, the Assembly Members have lost confidence in the MCE’s ability to lead the Ejisu Municipal Assembly and believe that decisive action is necessary.
“Since the election could not come on today, all the 28 elected assembly members have resolved that we are giving an ultimatum of one week, starting today, for the MCE, Jerryne Asante, in her own interest, to submit a resignation letter and recuse herself from office,” he said.
The latest development adds a new dimension to the growing disagreement between the MCE and members of the Ejisu Municipal Assembly.
The Assembly Members are now expected to wait for the next steps from the Electoral Commission regarding the proposed vote of no confidence, while maintaining their demand for the MCE’s resignation.
The dispute also puts the spotlight on the procedures governing the removal of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and the role of the Electoral Commission in supervising votes of no confidence against them.
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