Former Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah has denied allegations that he deliberately neglected the Presidential Villa and the Regional Minister’s Bungalow at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC), which were reportedly overrun with weeds and infested with reptiles during his tenure. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) accused Osei-Mensah of abandoning the properties over his eight-year term and vowed to investigate the matter.

In a statement released on Monday, January 13, Osei-Mensah explained the difficult circumstances he faced upon taking office in February 2017. He cited a GH¢1.5 million debt, outdated office equipment, broken-down vehicles, and poor staff housing as some of the key challenges that hindered progress.

Osei-Mensah revealed that he personally funded the ARCC’s operations for six months until funds from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) were released, and implemented strict expenditure controls that eventually cleared the debt by the end of his term in January 2025.

Addressing the state of official vehicles, he stated that he had to use his personal land cruiser for several months due to most of the ARCC’s vehicles being out of service. He also clarified that a damaged Toyota pickup seen in a viral video had been involved in an accident in 2014, prior to his appointment.

Osei-Mensah pointed to efforts to modernize the ARCC, including replacing outdated office equipment with new items such as air conditioners, laptops, and office furniture. He also highlighted renovations to the administration block, funded by the ARCC budget, and a larger six-story building project that received government support.

Regarding the Presidential Villa and Regional Minister’s Bungalow, Osei-Mensah acknowledged the need for repairs but emphasized that financial constraints limited the scope of work. He personally funded minor repairs and sought government help, though he noted that only partial funding was provided.

In conclusion, Osei-Mensah rejected the claims of neglect, asserting that neither he nor the ARCC would intentionally allow state assets to deteriorate, attributing the issues to financial limitations beyond their control.

Source:TheDotNews