Former Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah has refuted claims of intentionally neglecting the Presidential Villa and the Regional Minister’s Bungalow at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC).
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) accused Osei-Mensah of abandoning these properties throughout his eight-year term, alleging that the Presidential Villa and the official residence became overgrown with weeds and infested with reptiles. The NDC has pledged to investigate the situation and hold accountable those deemed responsible.
In a press release issued on Monday, January 13, Osei-Mensah detailed the challenges he faced upon assuming office on February 22, 2017.
He mentioned a GH¢1.5 million debt burden, non-functional vehicles, outdated office equipment, a deteriorating administration block, and insufficient staff housing as significant concerns.
To address the debt, Osei-Mensah stated that he personally financed the ARCC’s operations for over six months until the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF). He implemented stringent expenditure controls and asserted that the ARCC was free of debt by the conclusion of his tenure on January 6, 2025.
Regarding the condition of official vehicles, Osei-Mensah disclosed that he utilized his personal land cruiser for several months, as most vehicles were either inoperable or lacked fuel.
He clarified that a damaged Toyota pickup featured in a recent video had been involved in an accident in 2014, prior to his administration.
Osei-Mensah emphasized his efforts to modernize the ARCC, which included replacing outdated office equipment with new items such as air conditioners, laptops, desktops, refrigerators, and office furniture.
He also outlined the measures taken to repair the administration block, utilizing the ARCC budget for renovations and securing support from the central government for a six-story building project that is currently underway. For the residential buildings, he financed minor repairs personally and sought government assistance, although only partial funding was received.
Osei-Mensah dismissed allegations of neglect, asserting, “Neither the ARCC nor I would deliberately permit the decline of state assets.” He pointed to financial limitations that are outside the ARCC’s influence as the source of the difficulties and reaffirmed his dedication to addressing these matters throughout his tenure.
