The District Chief Executive Officer (DCE) of Nandom in the Upper West region has defended his call for the arrest of a young businessman, who organized the repair of a dilapidated bridge on the highway to Wa, which had been left unattended to for about three months.

According to the DCE, Cutbert Kunkpiel, the young man, Patrick Nakpena failed to follow due procedure in putting the bridge in good shape.

Even though the idea was a good one, he has broken the law, the DCE intimated, when queried on his action.

Speaking to Alhassan Mohammed of Joy News' affiliate station, Radio FREED in Nandom, the DCE noted that Nakpena never informed the Assembly neither were they aware of the involvement of the Assembly man for the area as it has been alleged.

"So if any [assembly member] was involved, that assembly man or woman has committed a crime", the Nandom DCE stressed.

Patrick Nakpena, concerned about the breakdown of a bridge between Nandom and Wa, mobilized some members of the community to repair it. But shortly afterwards, the DCE of the area ordered his arrest.

Speaking on the issue, Nakpena said, the broken bridge on the major road to Wa by a village called Brotu, had been left unattended to for more than three months with a hole developed in the middle of the bridge and expanding to the sides.

According to him, having realized that the iron rods were exposed and may cause danger to human life, he thought it wise to put the bridge in good shape to save human life.

As a result, he decided to organize labour, together with the GPRTU chairman of the area and the Assemblyman, and were able to repair the bridge on February 17.

Nakpena further noted that almost a week after the repair work was done on the dilapidated bridge, he was invited by the police, while in his shop and on getting to the police station, he was informed the DCE had ordered for his arrest for doing unauthorized work.  

Meanwhile, Nakpena said, after he reported to the police, he was left to go because the police told him they do not know the charge to bring against him.