Commission on Yendi conflict starts work

The Chairman of the three-member commission probing the Yendi tragedy; Mr. Justice Isaac Newton Kwaku Wuaku on Wednesday pledged that members would perform the task with transparency and open mindedness.

"My colleagues and I assure all those who will come forward to testify before us that we shall deal with all facts and information we receive with open mind.''

Mr. Justice Wuaku, a retired Supreme Court judge who was speaking at the commencement of the Commission's work in Sunyani, gave the assurance that his team would deal with all persons with fairness to be able to come out with findings devoid of bias or prejudice against or in sympathy for anyone.

Other members of the Commission, set up by President John Kufuor April 26, are Professor Kwasi Yankah, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ghana, Legon, and Mrs. Florence Brew, an educationist.

Counsel for the Commission is Mr. George Owuoo, a retired Chief State Attorney with Mars Regina Abotsi, as secretary. The Commission has one month to complete its work.

The Commission chairman emphasised that the Commission, according to its terms of reference, was not to conduct a trial of any person but to gather facts by listening to all persons, who have relevant information to assist with its work.

''The mandate of the Commission does not extend to delving into the long standing Yendi Ya-Na Skin dispute or the respective claims of parties to that dispute.''

He said any person, who would appear before the Commission to testify would be doing so as a witness.

Mr. Justice Wuaku appealed to all persons with information or facts to assist the work of the Commission to freely come forward and testify.

He said any witness wishing to be represented by a lawyer was entitled to do so, adding that the counsel for the Commission would assist any witness, who could not afford a lawyer but wished to have one.

Witnesses would be examined first by counsel for the Commission; the witness's own lawyer may also examine the witness. Indeed unlike in a trial, a counsel could cross-examine his own witness.

He appealed to the people of Dagbon to exercise maximum restraint and allow tempers to cool down for reason to prevail.

Justice Wuaku further appealed to witnesses appearing before the Commission to tell the facts and information within their knowledge but not tell deliberate falsehood or misinformation. "We are to enquire into a matter of great importance not only to Dagbon but also to the whole nation," he said.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo said the Commission was one of the most important bodies in the country's history.

He expressed the hope that the Commission would work assiduously, in a transparent manner and come out with objective, sound and accurate findings about the crisis.

Brong-Ahafo Regional and Acting Northern Region Minister, Ernest Akubuor Debrah, urged all those invited to appear before the Commission and those genuinely committed to bringing about reconciliation in Yendi to be very honest and sincere with their submissions to the Commission.

Among those present were Mr. Issah Ketekewu, Deputy Northern Region Minister, members of the Brong Ahafo Region Security Council and Mr. Mohammed Habibu Tijani, District Chief Executive for Yendi.

Meanwhile, the Government has stuck to Sunyani as the venue for the three-member commission probing the Yendi tragedy and said the decision would only change if there were compelling reasons to do so.

Mr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako, Assistant Government Spokesman, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra that Sunyani was chosen because of its proximity to the north and general suitability for the security of members of the Commission and people who might want to testify.

Mr. Amponsah-Bediako was reacting to a petition by the Dagbon Traditional Council and the Andani family to the President to change the venue to Tamale, Damongo, Nalerigu or Kumasi, citing security reasons.

"The Northern Military Command and the Police Service are on high alert to provide security to all stakeholders in the inquiry and no one should entertain any fear.

" Damongo and Nalerigu are within the Northern Region and the emotions of the parties to the conflict can come into play in these areas. Kumasi is also very far away from the conflict area. Sunyani was, therefore, chosen after serious consideration," he said.

Mr. Amponsah-Bediako said government was not down playing the immense threat of the Yendi crisis to national security, hence the huge expenditure to ensure peace and order.

"These monies could have been used to improve the socio-economic development of the north. I, therefore, appeal to people with vital information about the crisis to provide it to the Commission so that the truth would be unveiled to help avoid recurrence.