The Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, who spoke to journalists after being summoned by the Kumasi Traditional Council, however said authorities will not be in a rush to enforce order at the expense of peace and security.

[contextly_sidebar id=”shMLOzMaqrLRhv45MmTGtGTVjNHlYTqA”]Mr. Osei Mensah said REGSEC was still monitoring the security situation in the area and has since advised the District Chief Executive, Okyere Tawiah Antwi, to stay away until there is absolute calm at Foase.

“Until we relocate it [the district capital] will still be there… relocating an office is not an event. It is a process. First of all, they need office accommodation. Even if the town should offer some buildings, maybe they have to renovated and etc.”

“We are taking steps to make sure we enforce the ruling of the Supreme Court on May 22, 2012, but I cannot tell you that we are moving today or moving tomorrow. The process will continue and we want to ensure a smooth process so we won’t rush to get into a problem like we had,” the Minister explained.

Compensation for injured

Mr. Osei Mensah also hinted that Government will absorb the medical bills of residents who sustained injuries during the disturbances.

He was not however clear if families of the bereaved families will be compensated.

“… what I can say here is that the medical bills of those who were injured and then the deceased ones, that we can pay, but for the compensation, for now, I cannot talk about it.”

Assurances from Traditional Council

The Kumasi Traditional Council has resolved to assist stakeholders in enforcing the Supreme Court order to relocate the Atwima Kwanwoma’s District capital from Foase to Twedi.

This follows recent disturbances in the area after police opened fire to disperse residents who were protesting the relocation of the District capital.

The incident led to three deaths and several others sustaining injuries of which seven are still on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

The Traditional Council on Thursday summoned the Ashanti Regional Security Council and the Atwima Kwanwoma District Council to answer questions on what triggered the disturbances.

The Council also questioned the use of live ammunition by police to disperse the residents and says the deaths could have been avoided if minimum force was used.

Sensitizing residents

The council has thus directed the Foase Traditional Council to sensitize residents on the relocation of the District capital.

Otumfuo Kyeamehene, Nana Nsuase Poku Agyeman III, who spoke to journalists says the Kumasi Traditional Council will hold a town hall meeting with residents of Foase for a peaceful relocation of the District capital.

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This was disclosed by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, after he joined chiefs, religious leaders and other stakeholders to outline measures adopted to end the issue to residents of the Asante Akyem North District.

[contextly_sidebar id=”AJLgUhogQsT2GX3XzByWvPulxKm55CG0″]“In the next meeting of the Regional Security Council, we are going to look at the previous roadmap that my predecessors set up and then we will review the whole roadmap and those we think we cannot work with, we change them and add those which are implementable and ensure that we resolve this problem once and for all.”

He also assured the people of Agogo that “their safety was guaranteed” as they prepared for the farming season.

“…Any resistance, they should let us know. I don’t think we are going to tolerate any impunity henceforth, where we have people shooting at the security services. I don’t think we can accept that. We are going to do everything possible within the law to protect the people.”

He said the new roadmap was expected to include the registration of all the owners of the cattle and could involve the tagging of all the cattle.

“I don’t want a situation where we move the cattle from Asante Akyem North and they go to Kumawu and I go and fight them from Kumawu then the move to Nsuta then I will fight them from Nsuta. We have to fight the problem once and for all.

In the meantime, some herdsmen in the district have been fleeing the area following heightened tensions caused by the shooting of four security personnel.

One of the cattle owners who spoke to Citi News, said security personnel were shooting ruthlessly at their cattle and stealing the meat.

Four security personnel including three military officers and a police officer, who had been deployed to the area to evict the herdsmen, were shot by an unknown assailant following renewed government efforts to address the long-standing conflict between the nomadic herdsmen and local farmers.

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Stephen Osei told Citi News, that the Pastor, Reverend Kwame Takyi, who was put behind bars around 2:30am on Saturday, and released at 8:00am same day, is deeply traumatized by the incident.

The calm-looking Pastor could not speak to Citi News due to the trauma.

Stephen Osei said they were shocked that the Regional Minister stormed their watch night service in the early hours of Saturday to disrupt the service.

Mr. Osei Mensah is said to have burst the church building with armed Police officers at Anwomaso-High Tension, a suburb in Kumasi, and ordered them to halt an ongoing Watch Night Service because of the noise making.

The Minister, who lives a few metres away from the church, said he had earlier on gone to the premises around 12:30 am, to warn the congregation.

He later went there after about 2 hours, with the police officers and ordered the arrest of the head pastor, since the noise hadn’t stopped.

The Secretary of the House of Bethel Ministry, Stephen Osei, narrating the incident to Citi News said “The regional Minister came to our church and he said we were making noise as it was time for him to sleep. He entered there and told us to stop the noise. Our pastors wanted to speak to him but he wasn’t ready to speak to our pastors.”

Mr. Osei also said the Regional Minster used “all sort of abusive words” against them.

The church’s Secretary also suggested that police carried out the arrest unwillingly.

“At a point, the police felt the noise that was going on wasn’t something that could disrupt the place because it is a programme we do every last Friday of the Month. He [the Regional Minister] has always been here with us and this time, we felt surprised this thing was going on.”

“Normally what we do is that by 1:30 AM, we leave the microphone to the pastor. To preach and by then, we mute  everything in the room. People are not allowed to sing in the room,” he explained.

‘Noisy church’ left me no choice – Minister defends pastor’s arrest

Meanwhile, the Regional Minister has told Citi News he had no option than to involve the police to disrupt the watch night service of the House of Bethel Ministry, as they were making excessive noise in the early hours of Saturday morning.

According to the Minister, the church, which is about 100 metres from his private home, ignored his previous warnings, as they appeared to have increased the noise levels in an act of defiance.

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Police at KNUST have since granted bail to the Church’s Head Pastor, Reverend Kwame Takyi, after he had spent some hours behind bars.

The police picked up Rev. Takyi, and detained him at the KNUST police station, after seizing the church’s sound equipment.

Mr. Osei Mensah stormed the church building with armed Police officers at Anwomaso-High Tension, a suburb in Kumasi, and ordered them to halt an ongoing Watch Night Service because of the noise making.

The church members said the Minister’s “Rambo Style” was unfortunate, as they rather expected him to engage the leadership of the church on the issue.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, who lives close to the church, had stormed the premises around 12:30 am, to warn the congregation for the first time, and later came in with the police officers at about 2:00am to order the arrest of the head pastor.

The Secretary of the House of Bethel Ministry, Stephen Osei, narrating the incident to Citi News “The regional Minister came to our church and he said we were making noise as it was time for him to sleep. He entered there and told us to stop the noise. Our pastors wanted to speak to him but he wasn’t ready to speak to our pastors.”

Mr. Osei also said the Regional Minster used “all sort of abusive words” against them.

The church’s Secretary also suggested that police carried out the arrest unwillingly.

“At a point, the police felt the noise that was going on wasn’t something that could disrupt the place because it is a programme we do every last Friday of the Month. He [the Regional Minister] has always been here with us and this time, we felt surprised this thing was going on.”

Attempts by Citi News to reach the Regional Minister have so far been unsuccessful.

Although there are by-laws on noise making in Ghana, they are mostly not enforced, worsening the situation across the country.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to the company, they have acquired all the necessary documentation and permits to operate at Nyinahini.

[contextly_sidebar id=”uDfOfjiyhomZ9R6hfg5QkkJAuiXizTsn”]Some mining equipment and vehicles of a sub-contractor of Exton Cubic Group, Engineers, and planners were seized at Nynahini in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti by the police for what it called unlawful prospecting for bauxite in the Nyinahini Bauxite concession.

The communications officer of Exton Cubic Group, Sammy Gyamfi, speaking to Citi News said “we have many legal options available to us and as I speak to you, our lawyers are in a meeting considering these options and I am sure that when they are done, they will advise us as to the appropriate steps to take.”

He noted that his company has followed all due process to the letter and has “not defaulted in any way.”

“The Atwima Nwabiagya District Assembly, which is the district assembly with jurisdiction over the Tano Offin forest reserve, is in the know. The Forestry Commission copied them when it issued the forest entry permit to us. They have the documents.”

Mr. Gyamfi added that these developments could have been avoided if the Regional Minister had cross checked before ordering the seizure.

“… on record will be evidence of dealings between our company and other government agencies and he could have easily double checked with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry Environment, Science and Technology, the Forestry Commission and all these state institutions.”

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According to him, current reports are scanty hence the need to wait for the official reports from the investigators before conclusions are drawn.

[contextly_sidebar id=”kxZwVg6AHIMovgKIX4fMCkj4HjEf7Z8A”]Residents of Obuasi Anyimadukrom in the Ashanti Region over the weekend blocked roads leading to the town to express their anger after they claimed the anti-galamsey task force had killed a resident there.

The task-force clashed with some illegal miners who reportedly fired shots at them and pelted them with stones.

But according to Simon Osei Mensah, the reports circulating may not be factual.

“We are trying to investigate the issue as to whether the warning shot from the task force killed him or maybe the supposed gunshot that they heard from elsewhere…  What is important now is that the situation is calm and there is no cause for alarm, let us wait and see the end of the investigation,” he said.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, he said although there is the possibility of the task force mistakenly gunning down the deceased, the reports available to him does not suggest they did so.

He added that the task force administered first aid to the victim after they discovered him injured, few meters ahead of them when chasing illegal miners.

He said the deceased died on arrival at a Hospital.

Mr. Osei Mensah, however, called on persons interested in small scale mining to exercise restraint as the government works to regulate the space and open up for approving new licenses in a few months’ time.

“There is still a ban. Let us exercise some retrain and let the government come up with the strategies and those who want to go into mining will go,” he said.

The task force named, Operation Vanguard was dispatched last week to clamp down on the illegal activity in the Ashanti, Eastern and Western Regions and enforce the country’s laws against the practice which has devastated the country’s land and water resources.

Many have argued that the move is a major step in the fight against the illegal activity.

Anti Galamsey taskforce won’t attack Ghanaians – Amewu

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, however, allayed such fears, saying the taskforce will not attack Ghanaians but focus on its role in fighting galamsey.

Don’t dare anti-galamsey soldiers – Nitiwul 

Even before the taskforce began its work, the Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul had cautioned Ghanains to cease daring the task force.  He said, it will not be in the interest of Ghanaians to do so.

Dominic Nitiwul said the state was behind the task force hence the team must not be challenged.

“I will make it straight to the people who are daring the task-force not to do that because the country is behind the task force. Don’t dare them. It will not be in your interest to dare them… They will do everything and anything to make this mission a success,” he said.

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He told Citi News he would be engaging the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the matter is amicably resolved.

Last Friday [March 23^rd, 2017], a vigilante group believed to be affiliated to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), stormed the premises of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, demanding the removal of Mr. George Adjei.

The rowdy group destroyed state property and manhandled the appointee in a bloody attack.

According to the group, they cannot work with Mr. Adjei who was recently appointed by President Akufo-Addo.

They said he did not contribute to the party’s electoral success in the 2016.

They also demanded that one of their own be appointed instead of Mr. Adjei.

But speaking to Citi News, the Regional Minister said he has initiated moves to ensure the total resolution of the issue for calm to return to the Ashanti region.

Meanwhile, the police in the region have arrested one person in connection with the attack.

The suspect, Kwadwo Bamba, is believed to be the organiser of the vigilante group, Delta Force.

A statement from the Ghana Police Service said the suspect is currently assisting the Police with investigations.

The statement further asked those who were involved in the attack to report themselves to the Police. “We are also asking those who were involved to make themselves available to the Police because at all cost we will make sure that whoever is picked is made to face the full rigors of the law.”

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By: Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Simon Osei Mensah said their action will serve as a deterrent to anyone who occupies the position of the Kumasi Metropolitan chief executive.

[contextly_sidebar id=”vcJT7miaaTnyy4zbxbVOxb6kWh63oYZD”]Referring to them as “gallant fighters”, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah said the assembly members “fought for a good cause, and you fought until you achieved your aims and objectives.”

“This should send a signal to whoever is coming to take up that position, that there is a force to reckon with if you go wayward, and that should alert the person who is coming to take the position not to take such quality assembly members for granted. And that when they pursue a genuine course, they will make sure they pursue it to the end and to the fullest.”

The Regional Minister was speaking to assembly members at the just ended election where members fully endorsed President Akufo-Addo’s nominee for the Kumasi metropolitan chief executive position.

The former Kumasi mayor, Kojo Bonsu, tendered in his resignation as Kumasi Metropolitan chief executive after several calls from the Asanteman Council for his removal from office in 2016.

The Asanteman Council alleged that Kojo Bonsu had unilaterally removed Amoamanhene, Nana Agyenim Boateng from the Kejetia Market project board without informing the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

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Mr. Osei-Mensah, speaking with staff of the Regional Coordinating Council, noted that, in his bid to undertake government policies and programs, “I will not entertain any character that may be an impediment in my way.”

“My President is in a hurry to fix the country and restore it’s glory, so I’m also in a hurry to make sure we succeed together…we must work for the forward march of this region.”

The newly appointed Regional Minister met staff of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating council, as part of efforts to familiarise himself with all staff for an effective and efficient administration, during his tenure of office.

Mr. Osei-Mensah, lamenting on lackadaisical attitudes which often impedes growth, added that his administration will totally relinquish characters that will “cripple what I intend doing for the region and country.”

He assured all staff of his readiness to work with them in a free and open system, and further promised to give maximum respect to them, urging all to do same.

The Regional Minister had earlier met the Regional Security Council for a formal introduction.

He had also served as a guest of honour at the Annual Review of Ghana Health Service on his first day at post.

At the Annual Review held on the theme “Efficient Financial Management-A Tool for Achieving SDG3”, Mr. Osei-Mensah entreated the management of the GHS to ensure prudent use of their internally generated funds.

He assured them of government’s unrelenting support towards the health sector and charged health officials to work assiduously in improving health conditions of all residents in the region.

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