Reports by apparatchiks and communicators of the ruling National Democratic Congress alleging that the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah had left the government property he was supposed to occupy to rote has been debunked the regional minister.
The story, which appeared generously in several social media accounts with accompanying statements that defame the NPP, has compelled the Regional Minister to fire a release.
The social media allegation said among others that the appointee has abandoned the Presidential Villa to the vagaries of the weather and lefts State property including Regional Ministers Bungalow to deteriorate.
Below is the full statement released by the minister in response:
I have observed with worry a video circulating on social media creating an erroneous impression that the former Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah intentionally abandoned the Presidential Villa, Regional Minister’s Bungalow and other buildings at the Residency of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) to deteriorate.
Instead of responding only to this issue, I wish to rather report on the challenges inherited at the ARCC when I assumed office on 22nd February, 2017, having been sworn in on 17th February, 2017 and measures taken to resolve them.
The challenges included;
- Huge debt overhang
Large number of broken-down vehicles
Obsolete office furniture, fittings and equipment
iI. Run down administration block
- Dilapidated Presidential Villa, Regional Minister’s Bungalow and
V.Other buildings at the Residency
Inadequate staff accommodation
- Recognising very well that once you assume an office you inherit both
assets and liabilities, I took steps to address these issues.
i Huge Debt overhang
Due to the huge debt overhang of over GHc1.5 million, all the accounts of the ARCC were in red. Our fuel suppliers had stopped supplying us with fuel because of non-payment of bills. We could not buy basic items like A4 sheets, tonners, envelopes and other basic stationery. The ARCC was relying on KMA for the supply of such basic items. This I found very wrong since that could weaken the supervisory and backstopping roles of the ARCC. Consequently, for over six months I decided to finance the activities of the office from my personal resources until the first disbursement of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF) was released.
Since Regional Ministers do not sign cheques, I had to put in measures to control expenditure and to ensure judicious use of the limited resources of the Regional Coordinating Council. As I left office on 6th January, 2025 there was no debt overhang at ARCC.
ii Large Number of Broken-Down Vehicles
Most of the official vehicles were parked either because they were broken down or due to lack of fuel. The two saloon cars that were to be used by the Regional Minister and Deputy Region Minister had been taken away. I had to use my personal Landcruiser for work and official duties until a broken-down Toyota Landcruiser and Toyota Prado were repaired for the use of the Regional Minister and Deputy Regional Minister.
The Toyota pickup with registration number GN 4934-12 in the video circulating on social media was involved in an accident in 2014 during the funeral of the late PV Obeng, long before I assumed office and the vehicle is beyond repairs.
ii Obsolete Office Furniture, fittings and equipment
Irrespective of the very limited resources of the Regional Coordinating Council, the good financial management systems put in place enabled the ARCC to replace most of the obsolete furniture and equipment.
Actually both the administration block and the residency buildings had been run down when I took over the administration of the ARCC.
However, the condition of the administration block was quite better than that of the residency buildings, so I decided to fix the administration block with budgetary allocation of the ARCC.
As at the time of leaving office the building had been renovated and painted to have an improved look. I also appealed to the Administrator of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund to finance the construction of a new administration block that meets 21st century administrative needs of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council. The request was approved by DACF secretariat and the construction of a modern six- storey block is on-going at the ARCC.
