Unknown armed assailants vandalized a new National Democratic Congress (NDC) party office under construction at Awiaso Junction in the Ellembelle District early on May 7, 2026. The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Ellembelle condemned the act, emphasizing that only the court and the DCE, as Chairman of the District Security Council (DISEC), have the authority to order the demolition of any structure.
Background of the Land Dispute
The incident stems from a land dispute involving the NDC party office project. Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, acquired two plots of land in 2017 for GHc 20,000 each from the late Chief Nana Boadi. However, following Nana Boadi’s death, the Awiaso royal family, led by Chief Nana Akpanyi Armoo and Abusuakpanyinli Nana Ekeyeboe, contested the sale, asserting the land was not legitimately sold to Nana Boadi.
The case was initially in court but was later withdrawn for resolution through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Upon assuming office as DCE, Joseph Armah Agyekum proposed that the NDC party would repurchase the land to avoid further litigation.
New Conditions and Escalation
The royal family agreed to allocate a parcel of land for the party’s office under specific conditions. These included employing local youth in construction, assisting the town with building materials for their new palace complex, and paying annual royalties to the royal family. The NDC party executives reportedly agreed to these terms.
However, after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, the royal family introduced a new, significant condition. They demanded that the MP and the NDC party in Ellembelle ensure King Kaku Aka III, Paramount Chief of the Awiaso Traditional Area, be gazetted by the national House of Chiefs as the Overlord of Nzema land. The DCE stated that this demand was outside the purview of the Ellembelle NDC executives or himself.
History of Vandalism
DCE Joseph Armah Agyekum noted that this was not the first instance of vandalism at the construction site. He observed that the structure had been demolished previously since construction began, suggesting these acts were a demonstration of anger and frustration by elements within the royal family or their associates due to the party’s inability to meet the latest demand.
The newly constructed NDC office was valued at GHc 1 million. The assailants reportedly wielded guns and machetes during the early morning rampage on May 7, 2026.
Reactions and Warnings
Mr. Alex Mahama, the Ellembelle NDC Constituency Chairman, expressed serious concern over the vandalism. Speaking with NDC branch chairmen in Awiaso, he warned that such actions could lead to severe consequences, including arrests and detention, if the perpetrators are identified and apprehended.
Future Implications
The incident highlights the volatile intersection of political development, traditional authority, and land ownership in the Ellembelle District. The escalating tensions suggest that the resolution of the land dispute and the political implications for the NDC party in the region will be closely watched. Observers will be keen to see how the DISEC and the courts handle the situation and whether the gazetting of King Kaku Aka III becomes a broader political issue.
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