Government explains Wa Chieftaincy controversy

The government on Thursday said that it stood by the decision of the National House of Chiefs on 21 January, 2002, upholding the judgement of the Judicial Committee of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, which recognised Na Yakubu Seidu as Wa-Na.

Mr Ferdinand Ayim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, told journalists in Accra that that due general insecurity in the North, the Wa-Na had, however, been advised to postpone the outdooring ceremony.

Three Royal Gates to the Wa Skin - Yijiihi, Najeri and Jonyuohi - had protested to the Upper West Region Security Council against moves by the Nakpaha Gate to outdoor Alhaji Yakubu Seidu as the Paramount Chief of the Wala Traditional Area.

The three gates said before Alhaji Seidu's enskinment, they had informed the Council on 27 February about their appeal at the Supreme Court against the ruling of the National House of Chiefs that went in favour of Alhaji Seidu.

Mr Ayim, who was updating the media on the aftermath of the Yendi crisis, explained that although the other three Gates filed a motion of leave at the Supreme Court, the National House of Chiefs went ahead and dismissed the case brought before it on 27 February 2002 paving the way for the enskinment of the Wa-Na on 11 March, 2002.

However, a request to the Regional Security Co-ordinating Committee (REGSEC) for an outdooring on 8 April was turned down due to the general insecurity situation following the Yendi Chieftaincy crisis and its likely spillover effect to other vulnerable areas in the Northern sector.

The Special Assistant said the REGSEC held separate meetings with all the parties involved and explained the security implications on the outdooring and urged them to resolve any differences between them and the Acting President of the Wala Traditional Council.

Mr Ayim stated that in line with the government's mandate to provide security and safety for all citizens, personnel from the Tamale Air Borne Force and Police Service had been deployed at sensitive locations in the traditional area to maintain law and order.