Yendi Commission tours conflict area

Members of the commission of inquiry into the Yendi crisis visited Yendi on Thursday to see the extend of damage during the attack on the Ya-Na's palace between 25 and 27 March in which Ya-Na Yakubu Andani was killed.

The commission, led by its chairman, retired Supreme Court Judge Mr Justice Isaac Newton Wuaku, saw the body of the Ya-Na at the Yendi Hospital mortuary, the destroyed palace and graves of those who died during the conflict. They also visited "Kating Duu", the sacred place where new chiefs are enskinned and the mausoleum of Dagbon Kings. Members of the commission declined to be briefed by the Yendi District Chief Executives, Mr Habib Tiyani and also insisted that only members of the commission, security personnel and the press should follow them during their tour of Yendi. They also refused to take lunch provided by the Yendi District Assembly.

The commission measured the distance between the police station and the palace and the military barracks and the palace. The Northern Regional Police Commander, Kwaku Vincent Dzakpata, showed the commission places where dead bodies were found including the place where the body of the Ya-Na was burnt. At the palace, which is riddled with bullets holes, the commanding officer of the Sixth Battalion of Infantry, Lt-Col Dela Sakyi, said both automatic rifles and shot guns were used during the attack.

Briefing the press later in Tamale, Justice Wuaku appealed to the media not to hurt the sensibility of the parties involved in their reportage. On the petition by the Dagbon Traditional Council and the Andani family to the President to change the venue of the sitting of the commission, Justice Wuaku said the commission would meet representatives of the Andani family and the Dagbon Traditional Council to settle on the venue. He said the issue of the venue would be sorted out before the commission resumes it sitting.