Tensions are boiling in the Asante Mampong Constituency in the Ashanti Region as a group of angry youth believed to be supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) stormed the party’s constituency office, vandalized property, and set fire to items at the forecourt.
The violent outburst was sparked by rumours surrounding the nomination of a new Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) — a move that many in the party’s grassroots say blatantly disregards their preferred candidates.
According to eyewitness accounts and party insiders, the violence erupted following widespread speculation that Esther Dwomoh had been selected as the nominee for Mampong’s MCE position.
The alleged nomination has not been officially confirmed by the Presidency, but the mere mention of Dwomoh’s name was enough to ignite fury among some sections of the party’s youth.
Discontent
Sources within the NDC say that three individuals — 2024 Parliamentary Candidate Yakubu Yakubu, current Constituency Chairman Mohammed Kamil, and party executive Imoro Iddrisu — were vetted and shortlisted for the MCE position.
Their supporters believe that any nomination outside of this trio amounts to political betrayal.
The situation quickly escalated as dozens of aggrieved party loyalists converged at the NDC office in Mampong.
Chanting slogans and brandishing sticks, they forced their way onto the premises, smashing plastic chairs, tables, and other office equipment before setting some items ablaze in full view of the public.
Emergency Response
The police were promptly deployed to the scene to restore order. Although no arrests had been made at the time of reporting, a police presence remains in the area to deter further disturbances. The Ghana National Fire Service also responded swiftly to douse the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent structures.
Kwaku Bernasko, the NDC’s Constituency Communications Officer, confirmed the incident in an interview with CitiNewsroom.
“It’s a group of the youth who are agitating about a rumour that is moving around that the Mampong MCE nominee had been given to a lady called Esther Dwomoh,” he explained. “They came to the party office to express their displeasure to the party executives who were around.”
However, the demonstration quickly got out of hand. “We couldn’t control the crowd; party properties like chairs and tables were broken and set ablaze at the forecourt of the party office,” Bernasko added.
The unrest in Mampong reflects deeper tensions within the NDC’s regional structure, particularly regarding the transparency and inclusivity of political appointments.
-BY Issah Olegor
