Under fire Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, has descended heavily on journalists in the region for his earlier reported comments.

The Minister who was speaking at the ‘Keep Kumasi Clean and Green Campaign' in Kumasi recently was reported to have told traders who were complaining of the economic hardship to quit and sell cocaine if they are unable to bare with the situation.
The incensed minister said, “When we start enforcing the laws, people will be complaining of hardship. If there is hardship, then I will ask that you stop the business and go and sell cocaine for a living.”

“The indiscipline is too much. I want to use this opportunity to caution traders who are defying orders to vacate from the pavements around the Suame roundabout. We have previously told them to relocate in a peaceful manner, but if they refuse to relocate, we will eject them forcefully.

However the Minister after several backlash from the public and some political opponent has made a U-turn on the statement.

Describing the reportage as 'unsubstantiated' and 'irresponsible' , Mr. Osei- Mensah denied ever making such statement adding that they were "pure concoction of somebody who wants to do mischief for benefits known to him/her".

Read the full text of his statement below;

The attention of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has been drawn to some reports circulating on social media with misleading headlines like; “Some People are like Goats” and “Go Sell Cocaine”, which are purported to have been said by me during the KMA “Clean and Green Campaign Pre-launch” at Adum, Kumasi on 6th June, 2018.

First of all, these wild, unsubstantiated and irresponsible stories are not just misleading but a pure concoction of somebody who wants to do mischief for benefits known to him/her.

To me, these reports and those behind it have a grand agenda to court enmity between my good self and traders.

In fact, as a Regional Minister, I owe it a great duty to respect the people that I have been put in charge of, to serve, and under no reason will I spew words that will denigrate them or their profession.

I, therefore, want to state categorically that I haven’t said these things that I’m deliberately accused of. And for the avoidance of doubt and clarity purposes, whoever is interested to know what I said should/may consult some of the radio and TV stations that were at the event grounds to establish what I actually said on that day.

It’s unfortunate people can prepare such concoction of falsehood against others just in the name of politics. I am assuring those making all efforts to tarnish my hard-won reputation that with God on my side they will never succeed.

I also want to take this opportunity to assure all in the region, that I will continue to serve them in the best capacity and we will work to ensure that the Clean and Green society that we all wish for, becomes a reality.

To end, let me again state that under no influence will I equate human beings to animals, or ask anyone to go and sell cocaine.

Let me also assure that I remain focused and resolute in executing all interventions necessary for the forward march of the good people of Asanteman and Ghana, and I dare say such trivial and barbaric agenda can’t sway my focus.

Thank you.

…Signed…

The Ashanti Regional Minister

(Simon Osei-Mensah)