Ashanti Regional Minister ‘caught’ on tape making ‘cocaine’ comments

Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah has been caught with his pants down on tape lashing out at traders in Kumasi to get into the sale of narcotic drugs (cocaine) if they couldn’t cope with the economy.

This is after he vehemently denied the reports describing them as wild, unsubstantiated and irresponsible and further claimed are not just misleading but a pure concoction of somebody who wants to do mischief for benefits known to him/her.

During the official climax of World Environmental Day celebration organised by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly however, Mr. Osei Mensah while addressing a large crowd, majority of them being traders did not mince words when he told them to consider the option of selling cocaine and other narcotic substances to enhance their economic well-being if they could not stand the heat in the kitchen.

“We forgave you in our previous decongestion but for this time, we will not spare you,” he said at the event. ”When we tell you to vacate and relocate to satellite markets, you reply by saying the market is not good at such places…..If you think you don’t make good money at the market, go and do COCAINE business, that you would be better of…” He fumed.

The Minister was expressing his frustration at the manner in which traders plied their trade in the markets at various unauthorised spots in Kumasi.

But in a statement released by Mr. Osei Mensah, he distanced himself from such comments accusing journalists of fabricating the story for reasons best known to them.

However, an audio recording making rounds captured the minister telling the traders to go into the business of narcotic drugs if they can’t survive the economy.

Listen to the audio below:

Press Release

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 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.

Infact, as a Regional Minister, I owe it a great duty to respect the people that I have been put in charge 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 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 being 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)

Source: www.ghanaweb.com