Dagbon youth commit to peace roadmap

The national youth leaders of the Abudu and Andani royal families of Dagbon in the Northern Region have made a clarion call to their colleagues to end their prolonged chieftaincy dispute.

They have called on all members of both royal families to support the implementation of the roadmap announced by the committee of eminent Chiefs led by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll.

The groups led by Dagbon Malima Zungo (DAMAZ), a network of youth groups in Dagbon in the Northern Region, in a peace walk held on Saturday, 1 December 2018 in Tamale declared their intention to support peace and vowed not to allow anybody to frustrate the processes to restore calm in the troubled area.

The President of DAMAZ, Alhaji Jagbo Baako, commended the Eminent Chiefs, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Boresa Sulemana I and the Nayiri Mahami Bohagu Shariga for adhering to the clarion call of the Dagbon youth.

He noted that, the days of guns are now over completely and that peace and harmony is just miles away. He applauded the chiefs of both the Abudu and Andani factions for their resolve to allow the funeral rites of Ya Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV and Ya Naa Yakubu Abdulai Andani to be performed.

The committee of eminent Chiefs last month announced the dates for the performance of the funeral rites of the two late chiefs of Dagbon. In the roadmap, the Abudu family are expected to commence the funeral of the late Ya Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV from December 14, 2018 to December 28, 2018. This will follow with the funeral of Ya Naa Yakubu Andani II from January 4, 2019 to January 18, 2019.

"We would appeal to both gates to respect the roadmap to peace. Do us the favour of compromising and give peace a chance. All our ancestors, from Na Gbewa through to Na Mahamadu IV and Na Yakubu Andani II are watching and Dagbon must be awake from its slumber," the President of DAMAZ said.

He assured the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), government and committee of eminent Chiefs of their unflinching support throughout the process until the enskinment of a new Ya Naa.

Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Security Council this week deployed a joint military and police patrol on mission dubbed: Operation Show of Force to announce their preparedness prior and after the performance of the funeral rites.

The Police PRO, DSP Yussif Tanko, urged the residents to cooperate fully with the security.