Herbert Mensah

Ghanaian business mogul, Mr. Herbert Mensah, has entreated Ghanaians to be honest and demand accountability from leaders who manage the country.

Mr. Mensah, who was speaking on key issues confronting the nation on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana with Paul Adom Otchere, admitted that the country is facing a myriad of challenges and citizens must be able to criticize constructively to push leaders to solve problems.

“Challenge the system, question what is going on. One of the nicest gentlemen I know as a person is President Mahama. His skin may not be as thick as mine but you must tell him if he is messing up in certain areas”.

Mr. Mensah believes effective systems must be instituted in order to attract the right investors to expand Ghana’s economy.  The entrepreneur who was one of the biggest mobile handset distributor in sub-Saharan Africa says there must be integrity and transparency to create the right environment for businesses.

Herbert also believes the various sectors must be managed by competent professionals and has emphasized the need for government to deal with corruption at all levels.

“We can go to people with considerable sums of money and ask them how we can bring in funds to help with the development in Ghana. This can only go hand in hand when we deal with corruption, appoint the the right people and change the system so the businessmen who are suffering knows that they will not go through a frustrating process. When businesses are leaving Ghana for Ivory Coast and other countries then there is something wrong”

“We need to bring the honesty back, have faith and act with integrity. Unless we can do that we are not going to progress as a nation,” he cautioned.

Education   

Herbert wants an educational reform in tertiary institutions. According to him the quality and standards must be improved to produce enough intellectuals who are problem solvers than help to develop the country.

Football in Ghana

Herbert was appointed as Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko in 1999 and had a lot of success during his tenure in the areas of improved coaching, development of professional training facilities, sponsorships, development of other revenue sources and activating the massive fan base for the club.

Currently the fortunes of the club have dwindled and Kotoko nearly suffered relegation in the just ended Ghana Premier League.

Answering a question on how to restore the club to its past glory the Herbert stated that, “Rebranding and appealing to the most important people is the key. The people who matter most are the people who go to the stadiums every week. Can you imagine for example Real Madrid without its supporters? You need to go back and give respect to the ordinary people.”

Politics in Korle Klottey

As the National Democratic Congress (NDC) gears up for its primaries there is a strong battle for Dr. Zanetor Rawlings who plans to unseat Hon. Nii Armah Ashitey, the incumbent.

Expressing his views Mr. Mensah stated that it would be the decision of the delegates. He however believes a good strategy can secure a win for Dr. Rawlings.

“She is fighting an incumbent who is indigenous to the area and has served a couple of years. There are big challenges but I believe she has the support of her family. I don’t know her plans but a good strategy can help her to win”

Mr. Herbert Mensah however opines that it will not be an easy ride going into the 2016 elections as Nii Noi Nortey, the parliamentary aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), will pose a threat due to the massive support from the people of Osu.

He told the host that, “Nii Noi may have an advantage because he is an Osu boy. He is on the ground and I believe a lot of his funding is coming from the people. If the dispute between him and Lawyer Philip Addison can be resolved then he will be a difficult opponent for both Nii Armah Ashitey and Dr. Rawlings”. 

Listen to full interview here.