National Peace Council commends Otumfuo-led Committee

The National Peace Council has commended the Otumfuo led Committee for presenting to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a clear road map aimed at bringing to a closure the Dagbon conflict.

It further expressed confidence in the Committee and looked forward to the return of peace and development in Dagbon.

The commendation was made in a statement signed by Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, Chairman, National Peace Council and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday.

It said: “The Road Map which basically, envisages that the Abudu Royals should perform the funeral of the late Yaa-Naa, Mahamudu Abdulai from December 14 to December 28, 2018, to be followed by the funeral of the late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II, from January 4 to 18, 2019, is plausible, and the Council requests all Ghanaians, especially, Dagombas to support the Road Map to the full.”

The statement said the Council again expressed gratitude to all individuals and groups, who in diverse ways were contributing to the restoration and maintenance of peace in Dagbon, especially the youth associations, for their display of commitment to the Otumfuo led Committee.

It appealed to all stakeholders, especially, both the sons and daughters of the royal Andani and Abudu families, not to renege on the noble path of peace that they have taken.

The statement said they should note that, present sons and daughters of Dagbon, and the generations unborn would bless their memories if they do not allow both internal and external forces, which do not wish the peace of Dagbon to turn the clock backward.

Touching on the Supreme Court ruling on the Bimbilla chieftaincy issue, it said, the Council has noted with satisfaction the efforts by all parties to ensure that peace was maintained in Bimbilla.

The statement said the Council, however, appealed to the Nakpa-Naa family and all parties involved to cooperate with the REGSEC in ensuring sustainable peace, while further encouraging all parties and interest groups in the Bimbilla dispute to be guided by the Supreme Court ruling and observe other important traditional and customary norms and practices in Nanung.

It said the Council expressed the hope that future celebration of Damba Festival, as in the past, would be an event that would mobilise the human and material resources for enhanced peace and development in Nanung, to benefit the sons and daughters of both families.

On the creation of additional six regions, the statement said, the Peace Council, encouraged all citizens who are either for or against the policy to be guided by the provisions of Article 5 of the 1992 Constitution and the relevant decisions of the Supreme Court.

“The Council wishes to express gratitude to her Ladyship, the Chief Justice, and the Panel of the Supreme Court Judges who sat on the writ filed by the three petitioners for interpretation of Article 5 of the 1992 Constitution, for dealing expeditiously with the matter.

The statement said whereas the Council encouraged all parties to respect and abide with the decision by the Supreme Court delivered on November 20, 2018, it (Council) respectfully urged the Ministry of Regional Reorganisation and Development, to open its doors for continuous engagement with interested parties in order to deepen inclusiveness and participation in the process.

It said the Council had noted with deep concern attempts by some individuals who were bent on using social media to destroy the hard won peaceful coexistence of Ghanaians by abusing the social media platform to unleash, unethical songs and commentaries, with the intent of disturbing the peace of the country.

“The song making the rounds in the social media is full of hate speech, directed toward leadership of the country and has the potential of derailing the peace Ghana is enjoying. The Council condemns this unpatriotic conduct and urges all parties concerned to desist from it,” the statement said.

The statement called on all Ghanaians to jealously guard and protect the progressive path of peace that the country has adopted, and refrain from any actions and behaviours that have the potential to undermine the long cherished harmony and peaceful coexistence established as a people.

It encouraged Ghanaians to resort to available mechanisms that the State has put in place for resolution of conflicts, “for it is by this way that we will be helping to protect the peace of this country.

The statement called on all religious groups in the country to intensify their prayers for a more peaceful Ghana, as the year 2018, draws to an end, adding that; “Christians, Moslems, practitioners of African Traditional Religion and other faith-based institutions are respectfully encouraged to set aside part of their worship time to ask for God’s favour and guidance for the leaders of the country and his blessings of peace and prosperity on the people of Ghana.”

It expressed gratitude to all development partners, and Missions and Civil Society Organisation in the country for their support to peace activities and urged them to continue to support Ghana on her noble path to sustainable peace.