The Takoradi Circuit Court A has discharged embattled Metropolitan Chief Executive of Sekondi Takoradi Abdul Mumin Issah of all three charges of assault of a public officer, offensive conduct and disturbing public peace.
The court’s discharge was after lead prosecutor Superintendent Stephen Billy Addum had told the presiding judge, His Honor Michael Ampadu that prosecution wishes to have all charges withdrawn.
Before Thursday’s sitting, complainant Inspector Andrews Sarfo had written to the court expressing his desire to discontinue the case.
However, the presiding judge had rejected the letter, explaining that Inspector Andrew Sarfo was on duties for the State when the altercation happened, therefore any desire to discontinue the case should come from the state.
Speaking to journalists after proceedings, Municipal Chief Executive of Effia Kwesimintsim and Dean of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives in the Western Region Kojo Acquah said the developments in court are satisfactory.
“For seven months, STMA has not been the same. The regional minister was made to act. But you know he has other equally important roles to play and that was a set back. Now that the Mayor has been reinstated and the court has also freed him, I’m certain things at the assembly will come back to normalcy.
Scores of Sekondi-Takoradi residents had described the reinstatement of the Mayor as ill-timed considering that the court case had not run its full course.
However, Mr Kojo Acquah maintained the President’s action was in the right direction.
“I believe the reinstatement is different from the lawsuit…This is purely to do with the fact that the President appointed him as a Mayor and the President in his own wisdom suspended him and now the suspension has been lifted after seven good months. The President could have also decided not to suspend him in the first place”.
He added, “All of us MMDCES have taken a cue from what happened. In fact, we have been having meetings over the issue. We have advised ourselves to be circumspect in their dealings irrespective of whoever the other party is.”
Mayor back in office
Earlier on Wednesday, August 31, Western Region Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, who acted as the Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi, officially handed over back to Abdul Mumin Issah, as the substantive Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi following his reinstatement by the President.
Abdul Mumin Issah thanked the President for his fatherly love and the confidence he has once again reposed in him.
He pledged to work with all stakeholders to advance the development of the Metropolis.
By Eric Yaw Adjei|Connect FM|3news.com|Ghana