A ¢1 million National Democratic Congress (NDC) office complex under construction at Awiaso Junction in the Ellembelle District was destroyed by unknown armed men on May 7.

The assailants, reportedly armed with guns and machetes, demolished parts of the facility following a long-standing ownership dispute over the land.

Joseph Armah Agyekum, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle and chairman of the District Security Council (DISEC), condemned the attack as unlawful.

He stated that only the courts or DISEC have the authority to order the demolition of a structure.

The dispute involves land purchased in 2017 by the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, from the late Chief Nana Boadi.

Following the chief's death, the Awiaso royal family challenged the sale.

Although the matter was initially taken to court, it was moved to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

The DCE noted that the NDC had agreed to terms set by the royal family, including re-paying for the land, employing local youth, and supporting the construction of a palace.

However, he alleged that the family later demanded the MP and the NDC facilitate the gazetting of King Kaku Aka III as the Overlord of Nzema land, a request he stated was beyond their legal authority.

Alex Mahama, the Ellembelle NDC Constituency Chairman, warned that those responsible for the vandalism would face prosecution if caught, noting that the site had been targeted previously.