29 Ejisu Assembly Members Move to Remove MCE Over Alleged Financial Mismanagement

Twenty-nine assembly members of the Ejisu Municipal Assembly have unanimously resolved to pass a vote of no confidence in their Municipal Chief Executive, Jerryne Asante, citing serious allegations of financial mismanagement, abuse of power, and inadequate administrative leadership. The move, announced at a press conference on July 24, 2026, marks a significant crisis in local governance in the Ashanti Region and reflects deep frustration with the MCE's tenure.

The assembly members, led by spokesperson George Kuntu Blankson (assemblyman for Kwamo), claim that Asante has ignored a series of directives issued by the Assembly's Public Relations and Complaints Committee following a meeting on April 30, 2026. They say the MCE was given a two-week deadline to address several critical issues, none of which have been resolved.

Core Allegations Against the MCE

The aggrieved members have levelled multiple accusations against Asante. Most notably, they claim she diverted GH29,000 in property rates and business permits collected on August 1, 2025—funds meant for the assembly's internally generated funds (IGF). According to the assembly members, Asante and her personal aide allegedly used this money to purchase 32 packets of roofing sheets for personal use rather than depositing the revenue into the assembly's account.

Additionally, the assembly members accuse Asante of failing to oversee the court-ordered demolition of a structure that has encroached on a public road in Akyiawkrom. The members say a competent court has already ruled on the matter, yet action remains outstanding.

Beyond the financial concerns, the assembly members have raised governance issues. They allege that Asante lacks understanding of Ghana's decentralisation system and relevant local governance laws. This knowledge gap, they argue, has created unnecessary tension between the MCE and departmental heads who attempt to advise her on proper procedure. The members further claim that Asante has influenced the transfer of six department heads and three middle-ranking officers within her first year in office—a rate they view as destabilising.

Regional and National Interference Questions

The situation has become further complicated by allegations of political interference. The assembly members claim they received a letter from the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, requesting that the proposed vote of no confidence meeting be postponed and instructing assembly members not to proceed. The aggrieved members have challenged this intervention, asserting that neither the Regional Coordinating Council nor the Regional Minister has authority under the Local Governance Act 936 and the Assembly's standing orders to order a suspension of such meetings.

In response to these developments, the assembly members have issued a one-week ultimatum to President John Mahama to remove Asante from office. They have also appealed directly to the President, arguing that her continued tenure threatens development in the Ejisu Municipality.

Why This Matters for Ghana

This situation underscores ongoing challenges in Ghana's local governance system. While votes of no confidence against MCEs and District Chief Executives have become increasingly common, they highlight tensions between fiscal accountability and administrative capacity at the municipal level. The allegations against Asante—if substantiated—would represent a breach of public trust and misuse of local government resources that directly affects ordinary citizens and community development projects.

The interference allegations also raise broader questions about the balance of power between regional and local government structures. The Regional Minister's reported attempt to prevent the assembly meeting suggests potential political considerations overriding local democratic processes, which could set problematic precedents for governance across Ghana's regions.

For residents of Ejisu Municipality, prolonged administrative dysfunction risks delays in critical services, infrastructure projects, and economic development. The case also demonstrates the importance of internal assembly accountability mechanisms and the need for swift resolution of governance crises to restore public confidence in local institutions.