Andanis call on Abudus not to enter Gbewaa Palace

The Andani Royal Family has called on the Abudu Royal Family not to carry out its threat to enter the Gbewaa Palace at Yendi to perform the funeral of the late overlord of the Dagbon Traditional Area, Mahamadu Abdulai IV.

It said carrying out such a threat “Would amount to declaring war on members of the Andani Royal Family, and there would be terrible consequences”.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Andani Royal Family signed by its Spokesperson, Vo-Naa Mahamadu Bawa and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale on Monday.

The statement was a response to a press conference organized by the Abudu Royal Family at Yendi on Monday, January 11, 2016, where it gave the government a two-week ultimatum to begin renovation works on the Gbewaa Palace leading to the performance of funerals of the two late overlords of the Dagbon Traditional Area.

At the press conference, the Abudu Royal Family said, “We are compelled under the circumstances to serve notice that if by Monday, January 25, 2016, there is no renovation work going on at the Gbewaa Palace for the two funerals, we shall advise ourselves”.

The Abudu Royal Family said at the press conference that it was agreed at the Committee of Eminent Chiefs that the funerals of the two late chiefs of Dagbon be performed at the Gbewaa Palace, adding that the President had also given assurances of renovating the palace to pave way for the performance of both funerals.

However, the statement by the Andani Royal Family said it had never been agreed at the Committee of Eminent Chiefs that the funeral of Mahamadu Abdulai (IV) be performed at the palace.

It said that the Kuga-Naa, chief custodian of the customs of Dagbon, who the Abudu Royal Family accused of usurping the powers reserved for the Gushe-Naa in the absence of a substantive Ya-Na, was not under the influence of the Andani Royal Family.

The statement appealed to “Good members of the Abudu Royal Family especially those who are unhappy about the present state of Dagbon chieftaincy to join us to influence the unrepentant ones to abandon their unproductive stance for the good of all royals”.

It added: “For the convenience of the government and security agencies the Head of Andani Royal Family together with his family elders will shortly confer with the government and the Otumfuo Committee to come out with a new date for the performance of the funeral of Na-Yakubu (II) as soon as practicable”.