Chief Imam to visit Yendi and Tamale

The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, is to lead a delegation of Muslim clergy to the Yendi and Tamale Municipalities on Saturday 13 April to offer counselling and prayers for victims of the Dagbon Chieftaincy tragedy.

Mr Ferdinand Ayim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, told newsmen in Accra during the daily briefing on the Yendi crisis that "as the spiritual leader of the Muslim Community, his presence and counselling would help facilitate the peace initiative of the government."

He said security assessment on the ground indicated compliance with the state of emergency and commended the people for their respect for law and order, and resolve to give peace a chance. He said the dusk to down curfew has been adjusted to start from 1900 hours instead of from 1830 hour. This is to allow the mainly Muslim community room to offer their 1800 hours prayers before the restriction.

Mr Ayim said the military/police force was still on the ground and in firm control in the Dagbon Traditional Area. The Special Assistant noted that the Investigative Team was also on the ground working hard to unearth all those behind the tragic incident, which led to the death of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II and 29 others.

On the refugee situation, Mr Ayim said it had reduced from the original 7,000 to 3,000. He said the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) had offered relief items of 200 mini bags of rice, 40 bags of beans, 500 blankets and 500 mats to the displaced victims.

Mr Ayim said the Catholic Relief Agency and other non-governmental organisations had also offered relief items to the victims. On the state of the Gbewaa Palace, he said personnel from the Ministry of Works and Housing and Public Works Department were currently at Yendi to assess the extent of damage and how to restore it.

He said the government's level of assistant would be based on their recommendations. Meanwhile, Mr Ayim has expressed concern about some media houses that had floated the State of Emergency regulation on reportage of the Yendi crisis and urged journalists to be circumspect and adhere to the regulations.