President Nana Akufo Addo has suspended the Metropolitan Chief Executive for Sekondi -Takoradi, Abdul Mumin Issah.

The Local Government Minister, Dan Botwe announced the suspension in a statement on Friday.

“One the instructions of the President, the Metropolitan Chief Executive for Sekondi-Takoradi Assembly, Mr. Abdul Mumin Issah has been suspended from office with immediate effect pending an inquiry into his encounter with the Police on February 3, 2022,” the statement indicated.

“Government takes a very dim view of the comments made by the Metropolitan Chief Executive during his exchanges with the Police… The comments by the Chief Executive run contrary to the Government’s belief and work to ensure that our Security agencies and indeed Public Agencies are resources, empowered and accorded the respect to deliver on their mandates,” the statement added.

The embattled MCE’s suspension follows an alleged motor traffic offence, verbal assault and offensive conduct against a police officer who was performing his lawful duty.

Mr. Abdul Mumin Issah was subsequently arrested on Thursday and was arranged before court on Friday.

He was charged on three (3) counts of Assault of a public officer, Offensive conduct conducive to breaches of peace and disturbing the peace in a public place contrary to Sections 205, 207 and 298 respectively, of the Criminal and Other Offences Act of 1960, Act 29.

The MCE for Sekondi-Takoradi has also been charged for dangerous driving contrary to Section 1 of Act 683 of 2004 as amended by Act 761 of 2008.

He driving a Toyota Land-cruiser with registration number GE 5615-20 is alleged to have driven dangerously and carelessly while approaching a police snap checkpoint at the Kwasimintsim Cemetery on Wednesday, February 2, 2022.

Mr Issah has since pleaded not guilty and was consequently granted a GHS100,000 bail with three sureties.

The case has since been adjourned and the next appearance date being 17th March, 2022. Meanwhile the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has been assigned supervisory authority over the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.