Minister sues Republic Newspaper over Chinese 'galamsey' queen Aisha

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah has sued the Republic Newspaper at the High Court for defaming him in a publication involving the dreaded Chinese galamsey kinpin Ashia Huang.

The Newspaper about a fortnight ago alleged that the Minister, had been “hobnobbing” with the dreaded female Chinese galamsey queen and as a result granted her diplomatic courtesies in the region.

And according to the Republic, at a recent programme to confirm President Akufo-Addo’s mayor-nominee for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Osei Assibey Antwi, Ms Huang otherwise known as Aisha, who’s now on remand after she was arrested for illegal mining, had been hosted as one of the special guests.

But the Ashanti regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah flatly denied ever knowing the alleged notorious Chinese illegal miner.

According to him, the publication was nothing but pure concoction of “falsehoods, lies and disgraceful journalism.”

“It is in a very bad taste. I don’t know what they mean by doing that and they have to withdraw it immediately and apologize to me because I have never ever known that lady the whole of my life,” he stated in an interview with Morning Starr host Francis Abban.

He added, “fortunately for me, ever since I took over not a single Chinese whether male or female has entered my office. It is a lie and that is very bad journalism and whoever published that must bow his or her head in shame.”

The Minister who once served as MP for Bosomtwi and 4th Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament wants his hard earned reputation jealously guarded and has as a result moved a step further by proceeding to court to seek redress and clear his name.