I did not ask for 2,000 and 5,000 from district assemblies for my father’s funeral – Regional Minister of the West

Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah has dismissed allegations that district assemblies in his region were asked to contribute between GH ¢ 2,000 and 5,000 for his father’s funeral.

A viral letter circulating claimed that the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies of the Western region had been asked to pay the said amount as a contribution to the funeral of the father of the regional minister.

The letter signed by the chief director of the Regional Coordination Council of the West and endorsed by JoyNews, payments are expected to be made by Monday, September 20.

But a statement signed by the public relations officer of the Western Regional Coordinating Council said no such directive has been issued.

“The attention of the Hon. Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah was drawn to a letter dated September 15 on the above matter.

“He did not ask any head of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District (MMDCE) executive to make any payment in support of his father’s funeral or any other burial.

“Please ignore and consider any such information to be false, as the purported letter did not have the Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC) seal,” the letter said.

The funeral of the father of the regional minister is scheduled to take place from September 23 to 25 in Boanim in the Ashanti region.

The letter addressed to all MMDCEs in this region was written on the letterhead of the Coordination Council, which is of concern to the population. The opinion is that the death of the father of the regional minister is a purely private matter.

According to the letter, the Metropolitan Assembly of Sekondi Takoradi, Prestea Huni Valley, the Municipal Assemblies of Tarkwa Nsuaem Effia Kwesimintsim and Elmbele District are to pay 5,000 GH ¢ each.

The municipal assemblies of Ahanta West, Wassa Amenfi East, Wassa Amenfi West and Jomoro must each pay GH ¢ 3,500.

Meanwhile, the districts of Wassa East, Shama, Wassa Amenfi Central and Mpohor and Nzema East Municipal have to pay GH ¢ 2,000 each.

According to this letter seen by JoyNews, these payments had been discussed with the MMDCEs, but it was not specified whether an agreement had been reached and why state resources would be paid for the funeral of an individual.