‘Name and shame’ individuals behind Dagbon conflict´

Youth of Yendi are calling on traditional authorities as well as chiefs and people of Dagbon to name and shame individuals who seem to be stoking the age-long conflict in the area.

According to them, these “chieftaincy contractors” are worsening the volatile situation as a result of their selfish interest.

In a communiqué issued last week, the youth expressed sadness over the various committees set up since the independence era to foster unity in the area.

“We pray and appeal that [the Asantehene Committee] would be the last committee to handle issues of Dagbon chieftaincy.”

They want the performance of all funerals that will lead to the enskinment of a new Ya-Na.

In an interview with TV3’s Zak Abdul-Kadiri, a member of the youth association, Abass Abdulai advised the youth not to indulge in the chieftaincy issues to ruin their future.

He said the area needs development and not warfare, adding that “the resources used on the chieftaincy problems could have been channeled for development to provide jobs for them”.

He also indicated that the Northern Region has been recognized as one of the poorest in the country and there was the need to channel energies into ending poverty and poor education.

The conflict in Dagbon has been between the Abudus and the Andanis. The former recently threatened to renovate the Na-Gbewa Palace against a roadmap by the Asantehene Committee.