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Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah has issued a stern warning to residents in the Region not to complicate the work of the security agencies responsible to ensure strict compliance with President Nana Akufo-Addo's lockdown directives.

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo addressing the nation on Friday, March 27, 2020 decreed a 2-week lockdown in some selected parts of the country to aid in the fight against covid-19 epidemic.

According to him, only individuals and businesses providing essential services to Ghanaians are permitted to operate during the period of the lockdown.

The President directed that the lockdown comes into effect on Monday, 30th March and therefore has mandated a joint security force comprising the Military and Police to guide and protect Ghanaians across the nation.

Speaking in an interview on Hello FM Monday morning, the Ashanti Regional Minister explained that the security agencies are not to terrorize any person but to ensure no one flouts the orders of the President.

He told the host King Edward that though the security agencies are not to engage in an extreme force against persons, it is advisable that no Ghanaian attempts to challenge them in their line of duty.

He bemoaned persons who have not locked themselves up to stay home but wandering about in sheer disregard of the President's directives to desist from such attitude.

He further added that though vendors in the food value chain and some traders, per the President's instructions, are allowed to provide essential services to their customers; it doesn't give customers permit to loiter about in the market places.

He also advised people not to eat outside but package their food home.

Simon Osei-Mensah emphasized that firm decisions may be taken and the security agencies given an order to take stricter measures against recalcitrant residents in the Ashanti Region.