The Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah is questioning former President John Dramani Mahama whether he applied common sense in the fight against illegal mining activities during his term of office.
According to Mahama, the shoot-to-kill approach in dealing with illegal mining in the country is inappropriate urging government to attach some sense in the fight against ‘galamsey’.
It will be recalled that Mr Mahama at the NDC Unity Walk organized in Kumasi on Saturday, April 28, 2018 condemned the Akufo- Addo’s administration for motivating military and police officers to shoot to kill recalcitrant ‘galamseyers’ following the fight against illegal ‘galamsey’.
The Regional Minister briefing the media in Kumasi stated that the former President during his term of office harassed some small-scale miners especially the regional chairman of NPP Bernard Antwi-Boasiako popularly known as ‘Wontumi’, pouring acid into engines of his excavators and also set some ablaze.
“The Former President has the penchant of insulting. This is not the first time he has used such words. When he was a parliamentarian he insulted Hon Osei Kwame Prempeh and all Ashanti’s in relation to the use of the queen’s language. Others include the use of baloney on NPP Parliamentarians, Ashanti’s are ungrateful and if you even pave all their roads with gold they won’t appreciate just to mention a few”. Hon Osei Mensah said.
Read the full statement below
PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY SIMON OSEI-MENSAH, ASHANTI REGIONAL MINISTER, ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018
We welcome you all, ladies and Gentlemen of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, to this press conference. This press conference is organized in reaction to some comments made by the former President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama at the so called Unity Walk organized in Kumasi on Saturday, 28th April, 2018 by the National Democratic Congress (NDC). As leaders of the Region we cannot allow this to go without expressing our displeasure.
During the programme the Former President made some highly derogatory statements that should not come from a personality that in less the sixteen months ago was the number one gentleman of the Country. Before I continue lets listen to some portions of his comments. Having listened to this short aspect of his unsavory statements, you will agree with me that he could have been more decorous in his utterances.
The Former President has the penchant of insulting. This is not the first time he has used such words. When he was a parliamentarian he insulted Hon Osei Kwame Prempeh and all Ashanti’s in relation to the use of the queen’s language. Others include the use of baloney on NPP Parliamentarians, Ashanti’s are ungrateful and if you even pave all their roads with gold they won’t appreciate just to mention a few.
Now let us interrogate the words used in his latest address during the programme:
- Is the Former President saying the Government did not attach sense (“nyansa”) to the fight against galamsey?
- Has he forgotten what he did to some small scale miners in the Ashanti region, especially Mr Antwi Boasiako, aka Wontumi, pouring acid into the engines of his excavators and also burnt others?
- Did he execute the exercise with sense (“nyansa”) during his time, if yes why did he fail?
- Is he saying this to associate himself or take credit of the Road Map or new measures prepared by government, he cannot reap what he has not sown.
We expected him to tell Ghanaians that when he was a President:
- The social intervention policies he introduce
- Roads of Ashanti region were not intentionally abandoned to deteriorate
- “Dumsor” ended in the country
- Electricity tariffs were reduced
- NHIS capitation in Ashanti region was abilished
- The cedi exchange rate was stable
- Inflation declined
- Interest rate declined
Ladies and gentlemen, the Former President, John Dramani Mahama should rather be apologizing to his party sympathizers for the humiliating defeat he suffered in the 2016 elections but not to gain notoriety in insults.
We are grateful to the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the various special development initiatives and policies introduced as well as the competent management of the economy since assuming office some sixteen months ago. Prominent among them are the 1D1F, planting for food and jobs, IPEP which includes one constituency US$1m, one district one warehouse, NABCO, abolishing of Capitation in Ashanti Region, payment of nursing trainee allowances stability in the cedi, decline interest and inflation rates, arrest of dumsor-dumsor, reduction in electricity tariffs, significant payment of huge overhang debts in various sectors of the economy, revamping of the NHIS and school feeding projects and many others.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press let us take this opportunity to brief you the efforts to improve upon the bad road network in the Region. So far the DUR is working on 30 roads for eight of the have been awarded, DFR has 54 projects and the Highways with 52 and 41 awarded already. Copies of the awarded projects and those in the procurement process will be given to you immediately after this press conference.
Once again, we take this opportunity to thank the President for honouring the Asantehene, Chiefs and people of the Region for hosting the launch of the NABCO programme at KNUST, Kumasi. This programme will provide 100,000 jobs for the unemployed youth. The youth of this country are very grateful to the Government
Long Live Ashanti Region!!! Long Live Ghana!!!
Thank you all for your kind attention. May the Almighty God bless us all.
Source: otecfmghana.com
