An Mpraeso circuit court in the Eastern region has granted bail to five National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency executives remanded in police custody after they allegedly attacked the District Chief Executive for Kwahu South, Joseph Omari.

Their counsel, Francis Sosu argued in court Monday that the charges against his clients are bailable.

"Once the criminal proceedings has been activated against our constituency executives we just have to go through the procedure...because this is a family issue, we believe that the family will be able to put themselves," the lawyer told Joy News' Eastern regional correspondent Kofi Siaw.

The court has granted the suspects bail in the sum of ₵8,000 with one surety. The trial is expected to begin on Friday.

The five executives were arrested last Thursday after the DCE accused them of barging into his office and assaulting him. He alleged they also stole ₵800 from him. In his defence, Joseph Omari said he sprayed pepper on them to discourage further aggression.

The NDC officials in police custody

Only two days ago, about 32 constituency executives of the NDC in the Eastern Region announced that they had shut down all the party offices in the region to press home their demand for their colleague's release.

Despite the release of their colleague, the party executives say they still will not open all their 33 constituency offices.

Many party supporters who gathered at the circuit court were jubilant following the release of the executives which included the constituency chairman Mahama Salifu and General Secretary.

They chanted anti- Joseph Omari slogans. They carried the NDC Mpraeso chairman shoulder high hailing him as a hero. The party supporters are said to be marching towards the DCE's residence.

NDC Mpraeso chairman Mahama Salifu carried shoulder high

NDC constituency chairman for Nsawam-Adoagyiri,  William Atamudzie is among many party supporters insisting that the DCE must be removed from office.

"Our offices are still closed till we see the end of the trial. We have not opened our offices since Saturday. We cannot go and sit at the office when we don’t know the next step or action of Omari," Atamudzie told Joy News.

He stressed that the release of the five executives is only part of a set of conditions they stated during the press conference last week to announce the shut-down.

Top party officials are however in talks with the two sides to amicably settle the disagreement. Lawyer for the NDC executives is optimistic that the party will work to ensure the matter is treated as a "family" affair and not resolved using the courts.