Five persons have been arrested and remanded into police custody over the alleged destruction of a National Democratic Congress (NDC) office building under construction in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.

The destruction, which reportedly occurred in the early hours of May 7, saw the assailants wielding guns and machetes as they demolished portions of the facility estimated to cost about GH¢1 million.

Speaking to Citi News, the NDC Constituency Communications Officer, Kwesi Hanson, said the party remains resolute and will continue construction of the office complex.

“We have mobilised the contractors to come on site following the incident. We had to organise some materials for the construction. Investigations are still ongoing, so we are anticipating that by the time they are done, we will have a full report on whatever transpired and who these people were,” he said.

Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive for Ellembelle, Joseph Armah Agyekum has condemned the incident, describing the action as unlawful and unacceptable.

He stressed that no individual or group had the authority to pull down any structure except through lawful means sanctioned by the courts or the District Security Council (DISEC), which he chairs.

According to the DCE, the disputed land was purchased in 2017 by the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, from the late Chief Nana Boadi at a reported cost of GH¢20,000 per plot.

However, after the chief’s death, the Awiaso royal family challenged the legitimacy of the sale, insisting the land had not been properly transferred.

Mr Agyekum said the matter was initially taken to court but was later withdrawn for settlement through an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process.

He explained that in a bid to avoid prolonged litigation, the NDC agreed to repay for the land and also accepted conditions set by the royal family, including the employment of local youth on the project, support for the construction of a palace, and payment of annual royalties.

The DCE alleged that after a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed, the royal family introduced an additional demand that the NDC and the MP facilitate the gazetting of King Kaku Aka III as Overlord of Nzema land.

According to him, the demand fell outside the authority of both the party and the MP. He further claimed the structure had been targeted on previous occasions since construction works began.