NDC Office Set Ablaze

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) office in the Offinso South Municipality in the Ashanti region was attacked by hoodlums on Thursday evening. The attackers, who are said to be fanatics of the ruling political party, set computers and furniture at the office on fire. The suspects, made up of about 30 young men, have since gone into hiding and the police are searching for them. The president�s announcement of the appointment of Baffuor Amankwah Kesse as the new Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area, was said to have fuelled the fierce attack on the NDC office. Mr. Kesse reportedly reached an agreement with the NDC chairman of the area to pay him GH�300 every month if he assist him to become the MCE. This information is reported to have infuriated the NDC hoodlums who therefore decided to burn the accessories at the party�s office. He takes over from deposed MCE, Victor Ampongsah who vacated his post and travelled to the United States without permission. About 30 staunch NDC faithful decided to burn the NDC office in the area, perhaps to send a strong signal to government that they do not support Mr. Kesse�s appointment as MCE. The irate NDC hoodlums therefore decided to take the law into their hands by forcibly breaking into the offices of their party around 6:00pm, minutes after the announcement of the new MCE. The NDC gangsters reportedly broke the padlocks on the door of the office and removed office accessories like computers, books, chairs and wardrobe before setting them on ablaze at the forecourt of the party�s office. The suspects reportedly chanted war songs and threatened not to allow Mr. Kesse to resume work whilst the blazing fire was destroying the office accessories. They warned the government to appoint a new person to take over from Mr. Kesse immediately. The bizarre action of the NDC hoodlums reportedly attracted a sizeable number of curious people to the scene but nobody mustered courage to stop them from taking the law into their hands. The gangsters, after burning the office accessories, left the place without setting the office on fire and the crowd expressed happiness that they did not touch their office. Meanwhile, there were mixed reactions as to what really influenced the incensed party supporter to brutally attack the office of their beloved political party. They said since the government refused to heed their warning they therefore decided to take the law into their hands by infamously setting on fire the party�s accessories. Other segment of the crowd also alleged that the NDC chairman of the area had negotiated with the MCE to pay him a monthly salary of GH�300. According to them, the group that burnt office accessories claimed that they had not received anything since the party came into power two years ago. They therefore described the action of the chairman as insulting, hence their decision to attack the party office. When contacted, the Offinso Divisional Commander of the Police Chief Superintendent, Charles Botwe confirmed the story, noting that the incident occurred around 6:30 pm on Thursday. He noted that no arrests have so far been made in connection with the attack on the NDC office, disclosing that the perpetrators are at large. Chief Superintendent Botwe gave the assurance that the police would grab the suspects to face the law.