State of Emergency in Dagbon Traditional Area extended

Parliament on Friday extended the State of Emergency in the Dagbon Traditional Area for a further one month commencing February 16. Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, the Acting Minister of Interior, who moved for the adoption of the resolution, said the security in the area was still fragile.

This is the eighth of the extensions since the Overlord of the Dagbon Traditional Area, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani, Paramount of the Dagbon Traditional Area and 39 others were murdered during a chieftaincy conflict between the Abudu and Andani Gates of the area.

Dr Addo Kufuor said security agencies have reported the movement of arms and ammunitions in the area, adding that intelligence portrays a negative situation hence the need to monitor it closely. He said certain groups of persons have threatened to resist the state of emergency.

"Government is capable of dealing with any form of lawlessness. We are ready for any outlaw." He said government had so far pursued two broad objectives to bring about peace and order in the area, which includes establishment of the factual basis of the events, had been largely covered by the Wuako Commission.

"The other objective is to reconcile the people and help them to live in peace and prosperity, which was being handle by many groups including traditional leaders."

He expressed regret over the refusal of the Andani Gate to attend the recent consultative meeting at Akosombo, which was attended by religious leaders, Members of Parliament and other influential personalities. Dr Addo-Kufuor, who is also the Minister of Defence, said government would still meet with the Andani gate and listen to their concerns. He said three major events that must take place before lasting peace and order would be achieved include the rebuilding of the Gbewaa Palace.

"The Yaa Na would have to be buried and a new one enskined", he said. He said the State of Emergency would be scraped if there were enough evidence that the people are ready to live together as before. "We must all learn to forgive and show compassion. Emotional outburst should be avoided to move Dagbon forward." Mr Joseph Darko Mensah, Chairman, Committee on Defence and Interior, asked that the leaders of the Gates or at least the most uncompromising ones should be invited to meet with the Committee of the Whole.