A/R: Tensions erupt in Akumadan over ownership of Astroturf project

Confusion over the ownership of an Astroturf project in Akumadan has caused chaos. This project was built under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government. Supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) are particularly agitated.

On Wednesday, March 16, 2025, some supporters stormed the Akumadan chief’s palace. They arrived in a white pick-up truck and disrupted a meeting. This meeting involved NPP constituency leaders and traditional authorities. It aimed to address misunderstandings about the project.

Eyewitnesses reported that youth chased out constituency executives. This included the Chairman, Secretary, and Organiser. They violently resisted attempts to resume discussions.

The situation escalated into a near-violent standoff. Supporters accused others of trying to "hijack" a state-funded project for political gain. The youth were led by Emmanuel Sefah, who expressed outrage over plans for an official opening on April 18, 2025.

They claimed that MP Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah was misleading people about the project's ownership. They felt he was trying to present it as his personal initiative, which they found unacceptable.

Emmanuel Sefah spoke to journalists at the NDC constituency office in Akumadan. He vowed to resist any inauguration without proper representation from officials like the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE). “This is a state-funded project,” he stated firmly.

Sefah emphasized that Akumadan deserves honesty and transparency, not political propaganda. Offinso North Constituency Secretary Ali Yahaya confirmed the incident in an interview with Class News. He called it unfortunate and noted previous discussions with traditional authorities had been inconclusive.

Yahaya believes this contributed to rising tensions among supporters. Efforts are underway to de-escalate tensions and resolve the ownership dispute surrounding the project.