Ashanti Regional Minister’s outburst on security issues unfortunate – Communications expert

Political marketing and communications expert who doubles as a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School, Dr Kobby Mensah has chastised the Ashanti Regional Minister’s assertion that he is not in charge of security issues in the region on a live radio interview.

The minister, who in blatant fury displayed his disapproval of the line of questioning following the recent murder of a nurse retorted that, “It is not my function to address problems in individual homes as a minister...“I’m the regional minister and I’m in charge of the general security of the people in the Ashanti Region, but I can’t visit every household to stop lovers or couples from fighting. I can’t determine what couples do in their homes...ask intelligent questions.”

While reacting to the issue in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb, the Political Marketing expert said the incident was quite unfortunate, considering the fact that, the Minister per the governance hierarchy in the country represents the highest authority in his region.

Dr Mensah further explained that the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah may have reacted out of his knowledge that he was being put on the spot.

“I think it’s unfortunate...I’m not sure that he believed he’s not responsible but I think he had a certain attitude towards the journalist and the idea that he’s being put on the spot.”

He noted that just as President Akufo-Addo is responsible for everything that happens in the country, so is the regional minister to be held liable for all that ensues in his jurisdiction.

“I’m sure the regional minister knows very well that the governance structure of this country start with the presidency (the executive arm of government) and the presidency is represented by the ministers at the regional administrative level...which means just as the president is responsible to answer to anything that happens in this country, although he may not be the head of the particular sector, he is held responsible for anything that happens in this country. In the same manner, the regional minister is answerable to his jurisdiction. So it is difficult fo the regional minister to claim that he is not responsible for certain oversight,” Dr Kobby Mensah said.

In an attempt to provide some tutoring on some ideal communication practices for politicians this election year, Dr Mensah advised politicians and people who hold public office not to take offence in every situation when being questioned by journalists.

According to Dr Mensah, their responses are meant for the understanding of ordinary Ghanaians whose level of comprehension on some vital issues may be below-par.