Simon Osei-Mensah Defends His Record, Blames Financial Strain for Presidential Villa’s Condition
Former Ashanti Regional Minister explains the challenges that led to the state of the Presidential Villa and official residence, refuting neglect claim
- Osei-Mensah inherited a GH¢1.5 million debt and limited resources
- He personally funded ARCC operations for six months and used his own vehicle when official ones broke down
- Osei-Mensah made improvements to the ARCC
The NDC alleged that the properties were overrun with weeds and infested with reptiles, vowing to investigate the matter and hold those responsible accountable.
In a press release on January 13, Osei-Mensah addressed these claims, explaining that he inherited significant challenges upon assuming office in 2017. These included a GH¢1.5 million debt, broken vehicles, outdated equipment, a deteriorating administration block, and inadequate housing for staff.
Osei-Mensah revealed that, in order to manage the debt, he personally funded ARCC operations for six months until the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) was made available. He also enforced strict budget controls, claiming the ARCC was debt-free by the time he stepped down on January 6, 2025.
Regarding the state of official vehicles, Osei-Mensah admitted using his own land cruiser for several months due to broken-down vehicles and lack of fuel. He also clarified that a damaged Toyota pickup seen in a video had been involved in an accident in 2014, prior to his tenure.
Osei-Mensah emphasized efforts to modernize the ARCC, including the replacement of outdated office equipment, and renovations to the administration block.
He also secured central government support for a new six-story building project. For the official residences, he used personal funds for minor repairs, though government assistance was limited.
Denying accusations of neglect, Osei-Mensah insisted that both the ARCC and himself would never intentionally allow state assets to deteriorate.
He attributed the challenges to financial constraints beyond the ARCC’s control and reaffirmed his commitment to resolving these issues during his term.
