Calls have intensified for the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah to apologize to the Regional Manager of the ECG, Mark Asomani-Wiafe for causing his arrest. On April 24, the premises of the ECG were painted red as part of a series of protests to force the Minister to accede to their demand and apologize.
But Simon Osei-Mensah has rubbished the calls saying he will not apologize for doing his work. “Do I have to apologize for doing my work as chairman of the Security Council in the region? No”, he responded when asked whether he would grant the demand of the ECG staff.
Addressing the media, Simon Osei-Mensah justified why he directed the Police to invite the ECG manager. “I asked the Police to invite Ing Mark Asomani-Wiafe on security grounds because of the happenings on power issue in the region. And the fact that a task force can always come from outside to embark on a disconnection exercise without proper information.
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“Again, one of the other reasons why I decided that the manager is invited to write a statement is the unfortunate situation that happened for which bolts and nuts holding the metal frame to the concrete pillar for eight pylons were removed. We invited ECG to the Regional Security Council to look at the issue, but they failed to honour the invitation.”
“Also, I’ve requested for information from ECG for planned and unplanned maintenance schedules and regional distribution of GRIDCo shortfalls, but they never attended to my request.
“Finally, I’ve also informed ECG that where the President and Vice President lodge anytime they’re in Kumasi is declared a security zone. Unfortunately, ECG has never obliged,” he explained. All these, the Minister believes, are a calculated attempt to sabotage his authority and the government. “As a representative of the President and supervising the people of the Ashanti Region, I cannot sit aloof and allow such a thing to go on. Nobody can stop me and this Regional Security Council from performing our security responsibilities,” he stressed.
Reacting to calls by the ECG Senior Staff Union for their regional managers to stop attending Regional Security Council (REGSEC) meetings until the Minister apologizes, Simon Osei-Mensah indicated that “none of the ECG managers is a member of REGSEC.”
By: Ibrahim Abubakar
