The High Court judgment freeing the suspects accused of involvement in the death of Ya Na Yakubu Andani marks a milestone in the age-long Dagbon crisis. The judgment should not be a victory for, or a defeat of, any political party. It is a victory for the rule of law, which provides that an accused shall have their day in court.
The first acquittal of suspects in 2003 was twisted to imply that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was not keen on seeking justice in the matter of the Ya Na's death. The NPP however deplores the attempt to politicize the criminal trial of suspects in the Ya Na's death. The NDC pooh-poohed and ridiculed the Wuaku Commission. It was also put out that there was video evidence, on the killing of the Ya Na. The NDC pledged in their 2008 manifesto to "set up a new and truly non partisan, professionally competent and independent Presidential Commission to reopen investigations into the murder of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II". The NDC thus built up a huge expectation that they had the key to unraveling the circumstances and persons behind the Ya Na's death.
Proceeding on this political twist, the NDC, without much new investigations and evidence, rounded up suspects including very aged persons, transported them 100 kilometers away to Bimbilla for screening and launched into prosecution of 15 of them. By yesterday's judgement these have also been acquitted. After this second acquittal, can the public say the NDC is also not keen on justice in the matter of Ya Na's death?
Indeed the Andani family and a lot of NDC supporters in Dagbon seem to believe so. This belief has culminated in the reported burning down of NDC Regional and Constituency offices in Tamale and Agbogbloshie by disappointed NDC supporters.
The disturbances in Tamale have also resulted in more deaths. This is what the needless politicization of the trials has brought us in Dagbon today. According to yesterdays judgement the prosecution not only failed to prove a prima - facie case but that even the evidence was inconsistent fabricated and discredited. The NPP calls on the government not to be goaded by political imperatives and expediency in this matter, but to give our security agencies time and space to professionally conduct investigation that may unearth durable and credible evidence which alone can form fair basis for convictions.
In the meantime, the NPP calls on all Dagombas to rise up to the larger challenge of succession crisis in Dagbon. We urge Andanis and Abudus to find new strength in their common ancestry and proud heritage, to rise above the current differences, to forge for themselves a resolution of the current crisis that would set Dagbon on the way to peace and development.
The NPP also urges President Mills to use his good office to secure a rapprochement between Andani and Abudu, to bring them to the negotiating table, so as to build on the tremendous work of the Otumfuo Committee of Eminent Chiefs to securing a lasting resolution of the age-long crisis in Dagbon.
Signed: Nana Akomeah
Director of Communications
