The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has refused to apologize for the apprehension of the Ashanti Regional Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

He justified his actions by asserting that he had instructed the Police to detain Mark Wiafe Asomani, the ECG's Ashanti East Manager, due to security concerns.

During a press briefing in Kumasi on Thursday, the Minister disclosed the existence of agreements between the ECG and the Kumasi Technical University to settle the University's outstanding debts.

Mr. Osei-Mensah assured journalists that he was simply fulfilling his duties and had not engaged in any misconduct.

“Do I have to apologise for doing my security work? What I want to tell you is that I asked the police to invite Ing Mark Asomani Wiafe on security grounds because of the happenings in the electricity sector in the region and the fact that a task force can always come from outside to disconnect without the proper information.

“What is ironic is that they tell me that they are not under me and for that matter, I cannot tell them what to do but they want to tell me how to execute my security responsibilities as enshrined in the Securities and Intelligence Act of 2020, Act 10(30).”

The Minister also rejected allegations that certain ECG managers are part of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC).