I acted within the law – Ashanti regional minister rejects calls for his resignation

Ashanti regional minister Simon Osei-Mensah has denied calls for his resignation for his role in the military deployment to Ejura, which resulted in the deaths of two people during a protest.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, he retorted that “in advanced democracies people quit when they break the law, not when they act within the law.”

In response to Ejura Sekyedumase MP Mohammed Bawah Braimah’s call for his removal from office, Osei-Mensah said his removal “is the prerogative of the president”.

He again defended his army deployment in Ejura without summoning the Regional Security Council.

“When there is a security situation and an emergency, can you say that you are going to wait [and do nothing till you call for a meeting] when did people start destroying things? Asked Mr. Osei-Mensah.

context

Following the unrest in Ejura in the Ashanti region which resulted in the deaths of an activist and two others, a committee was tasked with investigating the unrest in the city and making recommendations.

Justice Koomson’s committee report was presented to Home Secretary Ambrose Dery about two weeks ago. The report recommended, among other things, the dismissal of the head of the municipal executive of Ejisu, Mohammed Salisu Bamba as well as the soldier who led the command of the ground operation on the day of the incident.

While the report is not fully published, parts of it seen by Citi News revealed these recommendations. There is also a recommendation for the payment of compensation for affected families and victims.

Ejura Sekyedumase MP Mohammed Bawah Braimah insisted that the recommendations of Judge Koomson’s committee do not go far enough.

Mr. Braimah insisted that the recommended sanctions are not punitive enough.

He told reporters he expected the committee to recommend severe sanctions against Ashanti regional minister Simon Osei Mensah, who admitted to inviting the soldiers into the city.

“The committee should have recommended the removal of [Ashanti] Regional Minister or a heavy sentence [be imposed on him]. If you look at the work of the committee, they should even have invited the soldiers who were in the field. Instead, they invited officers from Kumasi who were not on the ground but testified on the basis of hearsay. And hearsay evidence is not always factual. They should even have invited the commander who was in the field, ”he said.

—Press room