House of Chiefs call for sustainable peace in Dagbon

The National House of Chiefs has called on the people of Dagbon to rally behind the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II to seek lasting peace and unity to pave way for infrastructure and overall development.

It said development in Dagbon could not be sustained until its citizens embraced peace and unity as well as working together for socio-economic improvement of the citizens.

"Settling the chieftaincy issues in Dagbon was the beginning but everyone had the collective responsibility to ensure that the peace and unity in Dagbon was sustained", the chiefs said.

Togbe Afede XIV, President of NHC who is also Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State made the call at the NHC's Mid-year meeting held in Tamale to honour the people of Dagbon and their Overlord for embracing peace.

The meeting was on the theme: "Consolidating the Peace in Dagbon for National Development".

Togbe Afede XIV commended the efforts of both current and past governments, the Committee of Eminent Chiefs and all other stakeholders who tirelessly worked to ensure the peace in Dagbon.

He advised the Overlord Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II to run an open-door administration and urged everyone to allow chieftaincy institution to work stated in the constitution and with no external interference especially politics.

Ya- Na Abukari Mahama II, the Overlord of Dagbon acknowledged the efforts of government, the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, the royals of Dagbon and other stakeholders for their respective roles played in the Dagbon peace process.

Ya-Na Mahama II assured the house of chiefs that measures would be put in place to ensure that the current prevailing peace in Dagbon was sustained.

"I intend to convey a meeting with the Dagbon Traditional Council in pursuance of sustainable peace. We will review any custom that may be contributing to the succession disputes as well as eliminate or modify any customary practices that may be inimical to human right and dignity," he said.

He appealed to the people in Saboba and Chereponi districts to give peace a chance and called on government to adopt pragmatic measures to help facilitate in solving the conflict in these districts.

The Bupei Wura Mahama Jinapor II, the Paramount Chief of the Bupei Traditional Area who read a speech on behalf of the President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, expressed gratitude to the nation al house of chiefs for hosting its first meeting in Tamale, which would help strengthen the peace in the north and add colour to the Chieftaincy Institution.

He stressed the need for effective collaboration between government and the traditional authorities to aid in championing the course of development.

Mr Kofi Dzamesi, the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs urged all to uphold the dignity of the chiefs and Chieftaincy institution as well as make deliberate conscious efforts to make the institution relevant and dynamic at all times.

Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Minister for National Security in a speech read on his behalf said it was necessary for all stakeholders to consolidate the peace process by supporting the Ya-Na in his endeavour to steer Dagbon out of its past malaise.

He said government, through the Ministry was working to solve the security issues, mentioning the recent rising scare of kidnapping and privy information on terrorists threats in the sub region with reported attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

He entreated the citizenry to be more security conscious and closely observe their surroundings and urged the media to be circumspect when commenting on issues bothering on security.