Five people have been arrested and remanded into police custody over the alleged destruction of a National Democratic Congress (NDC) office complex under construction in Ellembelle in the Western Region.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of May 7, when armed men wielding guns and machetes allegedly demolished parts of the building, estimated to be worth about GH¢1 million.
Speaking to Citi News, the NDC Constituency Communications Officer, Kwesi Hanson, said the party remained committed to completing the project despite the attack.
According to him, contractors had already been mobilised back to the site while investigations into the incident continue.
Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive for Ellembelle, Joseph Armah Agyekum, condemned the destruction, describing it as unlawful and unacceptable.
He stressed that no individual or group had the authority to demolish any structure without approval through legal processes or by the District Security Council (DISEC), which he chairs.
Mr Agyekum explained that the matter had initially been taken to court but was later withdrawn to allow for settlement through an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process.
According to him, the NDC agreed to pay for the land and also accepted conditions proposed by the royal family, including providing jobs for local youth, supporting the construction of a palace and paying annual royalties.
He further alleged that after a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed, the royal family demanded that the NDC and the area Member of Parliament support the gazetting of King Kaku Aka III as Overlord of Nzema land.
Mr Agyekum said the request was beyond the authority of both the political party and the MP, adding that the project site had come under repeated attacks since construction began.
Source: gbcghanaonline.com
