Nayiri urges government to help bury Ya-Na

Tamale, March 5, GNA - The Nayiri, Naa Bouhagu Mohammed Sheriga, Paramount Chief of the Mamprugu Traditional Area has urged the government to help bury the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani, while investigations continue into the cause of his death.

The Nayiri made the call on Thursday when Mr Ernest Debrah, Minister of Food and Agriculture and Alhaji Boniface Abubakari Saddique, Northern Regional Minister called on him at his Palace at Nalerigu.

The visit was to enable Mr Debrah, who was until his new appointment, the Northern Regional Minister, to bid farewell to the Nayiri and his elders and to introduce the new Regional Minister, Alhaji Saddique to them.

Naa Sheriga said, "until the late king is buried, no lasting peace could be brokered between the Andani and the Abudu Gates", he added, " the only way to consolidate the prevailing peace in the area is to find a resting place for the late king".

He advised the new Regional Minister to be undaunted by any setbacks in his efforts to help unite the people of Dagbon.

In his response, Alhaji Saddique said he had come to the region not as an NPP Minister but a regional minister and would be opened to all to ensure the sustenance of peace in the region.

Alhaji Saddique noted that there is huge responsibility that he has to carry as Minister but said he was optimistic that with the support and cooperation of the people, he would be able to measure up to the task.

Mr Debrah thanked the chiefs and people of Mamprugu for their support during his tenure of office and asked them to extend the same support to the new Minister.

He commended Naa Sheriga for his role in helping to bring an appreciable level of peace to Dagbon, restating the government's commitment to give the late Ya-Na a befitting burial. The two ministers also paid similar courtesy calls on the Kuga-Na (Senior kingmaker of Dagbon), Braima Abudulai, and the chiefs from both the Andani and Abudu Gates at Yendi, as well as the chief of Tamale Naa Roland Alhassan.

In a related development, Alhaji Saddique on Friday paid a courtesy call on the Nanton Na, Alhaji Alhassan Sule and his elders to introduce himself as the new Regional Minister.

He told the people that the region was endowed with enormous natural resources but said these could only be tapped for development in an atmosphere of peace.

He therefore, urged the people to bury their differences and reconcile with one another and forge ahead in the development of the North. He called on the youth in particular not to allow themselves to be used by politicians and chieftaincy contractors to foment trouble and violence.

The Nanton Na assured the Minister of the cooperation of the chiefs and people of Nanton "so that together we can bring peace and move the region forward.