The Executives of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region were shocked and dismayed by the deplorable state of the presidential villa and other state bungalows at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC).
Led by Chairman Andrews Nana Kwasi, the regional executives visited the RCC to take inventory of properties as the NDC takes over government.
However, what they saw left them stunned on Friday January 10,2025 during their visit.
According to them the regional Minister’s bungalows and the presidential villa were overgrown with bush, windows broken,door frames removed, furniture, aircontioners and other appliances were nowhere to be found.
Chairman Nana Kwasi attributed the state of disrepair to mismanagement by the outgoing NPP officers led by the immediate past Regional minister Simon Osei Mensah, who had brought the facility to its lowest level.
“As we all know, there’s a change of government, and very soon, we’ll have a new Ashanti Regional Minister. So we decided to inspect the facilities in which the minister will lodge to avoid paying huge sums of money to hire hotels which in the end will cause financial loss to the state.
H.E John Mahama has decided to make good use of the country’s resources and as a regional NDC Chairman, myself and executives, we are also poised to offer our support to the President.
So we’re inspecting all government bungalows for the MMDCEs and various government officials have a place to stay.
In our first visit to Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) , what we saw here today is shocking.
If you look at the regional Minister’s bungalow, where four of our (NDC) former ministers lived and the presidential villa in which Mahama used to live whenever he came to Kumasi, the buildings are bushy and rotten. They have stolen its furniture, air conditioners, doors and windows are broken.” Nana Kwasi hinted.
He added that, “The NPP’s due negligence has caused this and if we’re to renovate these buildings, it will cost the country a lot which will be a sort of financial loss to the state.”
Despite the challenges, Chairman Nana Akwasi assured the public that the NDC will renovate the facility to ensure that the President and the incoming regional minister have a suitable place to stay, thereby avoiding hefty hotel bills.
The renovation is expected to take six months to a year, with the NDC promising value for money in the process.
“…However, once there is a change of government, we’ll make sure that those who were responsible to have protected this deteriorated building are prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to us and everyone.”
“I can assure you that, H.E John Mahama and the incoming Ashanti Regional Minister will renovate these buildings in not less than six months or a year and the system will start working.” The Ashanti NDC Chairman asured.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com/Joseph Marfo
