Dagbon Peace: No pressure was on me – Asantehene

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has said no political pressure was brought to bare on him personally as well as his three-member Committee on Eminent Chiefs by President Nana Akufo-Addo to arrive at the current peace roadmap toward resolving the chieftaincy impasse between the Abudu and Andani royal gates in the Dagbon Traditional Area.

According to the leader of the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, no leader from ex-president J.A Kufuor to Nana Akufo-Addo, has brought pressure on him to resolve the issue to suit one party or the other.

“Let me put it on record that at no time has any president or political party brought any influence at all on this committee, none of them. You have not brought any pressure on us to resolve this. President Kufuor didn’t do that, President Mills didn’t do that, President Mahama didn’t do that and they know I wouldn’t allow anyone to bring pressure on me to settle issues of whether the president likes it this way or not. No one can force me to do it”, Otumfuo said on Wednesday, 21 October 2018 when he presented a report to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the roadmap to finding lasting peace to the Dagbon crisis at the Jubilee House.

The Asantehene said the Committee of Eminent Chiefs came to their conclusion “based on the customs and traditions of Dagbon, and we want to assure you that we still will continue through that to get a new Ya Na.”

According to him, the impression that the NPP is in government and “they are in a hurry to perform the funeral of Naa Mahamadu” should be discarded because “that’s not the issue.”

“The president has not brought any pressure on me to resolve this and I’ve gone through NPP and NDC governments and none of them brought any pressure on me,” the Asanethene added.

The Committee of Eminent Chiefs have resolved that the Abudu and Andani royal families should perform the funeral rites of the late Ya Na Mahamadu Abdulai IV from 14 December 2018 to 28 December 2018; and the funeral rites of the late Ya Na Yakubu Andani II from 4 January 2019 to 14 January 2019.

Breakthrough

Per the peace deal, the Abudus would be given access to the Gbewa Palace to perform the final funeral rites of the late Ya Na Mahamadu Abdulai according to their customs and traditions.

The funeral rites, which are expected to last for two weeks, would commence on December 14 and end on December 28, 2018, after which the Abudus would leave the Gbewa Palace peacefully.

The Andanis would also take their turn at the Gbewa Palace to organize the funeral rites of the late Ya Na Yakubu Andani from 4-18 January 2019.

The Abudus would also leave the Gbewa Palace peacefully after holding the final funeral rites of Ya Na Yakubu Andani according to their rich customs and traditions.

The holding of the two funeral rites would pave way for processes to begin towards the enskinment of a new Ya Na for the Dagbon Traditional Area.

High Security Presence

The three eminent chiefs also ordered the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC), led by the Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, who was present at the meeting on Friday, to ensure tight security during the two funerals.

The Asantehene said the roadmap would be adhered to without any last-minute changes whatsoever. He entreated the two royal gates to take note and act accordingly to help promote peace in the area.