The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to remove Simon Osei Mensah as the Ashanti regional minister.

Mr. Osei Mensah in a reaction to lamentations by traders about economic hardships suggested that they resort to selling cocaine if they think the economy is too hard for them.

The traders have since been on a warpath with the minister, demanding an apology. Mr Osei Mensah subsequently justified the comments, arguing that he was forced to make those comments because of the growing spate of indiscipline among a section of residents in the Ashanti region.

But the opposition NDC says the utterances of the minister is unbecoming of his office.

According to the Deputy Ashanti regional Secretary of the party, Kwame Zu the president must dismiss the minister.

“The Minister hasn’t spoken well, he has not shown any form of compassion to these traders who are been mistreated by this very government and if he wants to be fair the honourable thing to do is to retract and apologize to the hard-working traders of Ashanti Region.

“But this is not the first time we have heard comments like this come from him, there is no justification, these are direct venting that have been lashed out at traders and the minister should have a sober reflection and apologize or the president should do the best thing and remove him from office as a minister.”