Police arrest New Ningo assemblyman

Aaron Addo Akwetey, assemblyman for New Ningo is helping police investigations into the burning and destroying of building materials meant for a tourism project at the New Ningo beach.

Akwetey is alleged to have mobilised some youth in the area to throw the building materials into the sea after they had burnt lumber at the project site. Nene Gidigago Djamgba III, Chief of New Ningo told the Ghana News Agency that since the suspect's election as the assemblyman, he has usurped the powers of the chief and arrogated to himself the power of allocating plots in the town.

Nene Djamgba, who was flanked by his Asafoatsemei, Agyeman Okoforobuo III and Siaw Morosah, said Mr. Akwetey had on several occasions challenged him and his lands allocation committee, whenever they gave out lands to the people.

The Chief said on 20 October this year, the suspect challenged an investor after they had allocated him a plot at the beach to build chalets. They mobilised some youth in the area to destroy the project that had been started. "They burnt the timber boards with petrol and dumped the iron rods and cement meant for the project into the sea," the chief alleged.

Nene Djamgba said Mr Narh Tetteh Fioh, a concerned citizen, who witnessed the destruction by the assemblyman and his gang, confronted them and later reported the incident to the chiefs, who also lodged a complaint with the police.

Police Superintendent George Appiah, Tema Regional Crime Officer, confirmed the arrest of the assemblyman and said the suspect showed a letter to the police indicating that he was given authority to undertake the exercise by the District Chief Executive for Dangme West.

Supt. Appiah said the DCE confirmed speaking with Akwetey, but stated that he only directed him to report any grievances he might have over the beach project to the police to investigate and not to destroy it as he alleged. According to the police, Akwetey would be put before the court.