The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is advocating the government takes a “very serious decision” on persons who may try to frustrate processes put in place to ensure lasting peace in Dagbon.
The Asantehene who heads eminent chiefs tasked to bring the two feuding factions in the over-decade-old Dangbon chieftaincy crisis in the Northern region presented their report on the road map to lasting peace to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday November 21.
The Gbewa Palace which is the seat of Dagbon Chiefs has been the bone of contention between the Abudu and Andani royal gates of Dagbon with the Abudus defending their right to access the Palace and the Andanis vehemently refusing to allow their brothers access to the palace to perform the funeral of the late Mahamadu Abdulai, whom they claimed did not die as a chief.
The committee after sitting for about 12 years concluded that Mahamadu Abdulai funeral should be held at the palace.
The Andani faction at a press conference in the morning of Wednesday, November 21, 2018 challenged the decision of the Asantehene-led Committee, and insisted they will resist any attempt to perform the funeral of Mahamadu Abdulai because he died as a private person and at a private location.
Read: Dagbon crisis: Late Abdulai’s funeral rites won’t take place at Gbewa palace- Andani family vows
In an apparent response to them, the Asantehene declared: “We have to take very serious decision on those people, we cannot countenance…I cannot countenance anyone holding Dagbon or this country to ransom because of their personal issue.”
Per the road map, the funeral of Naa Mahamadu Abdulai would be held from 14th of December to the 28th of December this year, after a one week respite, there would be another from the 4th to 18th of January then the Andani family will also perform theirs.
“On the last day, the Friday there are four recognised elders who have to sit in seclusion and they would have to work, do their oracle to choose the next Yaa Naa…God willingly in a few days we shall have the next Yaa Naa,” Otumfuo Osei Tutu prayed.
He said the committee will not rest until the next Yaa Naa is installed, adding that they will still engage the Kog-Naa , who traditionally has the power to select the Yaa Naa to act as a father to both sides in the peace process.
“But if he takes any intransigent position, I am afraid the committee will have to deal with that,” he asserted.
The Asantehene was also not happy about the refusal of the Regent of Dagbon or his representatives to be present whilst the report was being presented to the president, recalling the failure of the Regent and his people to cooperate with the committee.
“You cannot benefit from the committee’s decisions and still refuse not to appear before the committee, that cannot be allowed,” he stressed.
He maintained “Dagbon is at peace”, stressing that the decision taken by the committee was devoid of any political or personal influence but purely based on custom and tradition.
“Let me put it on record that at no time, has any president or party or political party brought any influence at all on this committee, none of them…I wouldn’t allow and they know I wouldn’t allow anyone to bring pressure on me to settle any issue that the president likes it this way.”
He also assured the Andani family that the committee is willing to assist in the prosecution if evidence is presented as to who killed Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani.
By Isaac Essel |3news.com | Ghana]]>
