Use legitimate custodians to resolve Dagbon chieftaincy dispute - Late Yaa-Naa’s family

The Andani royal gate, family of the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani, has cautioned government to be mindful of chieftaincy contractors in their quest to find a lasting solution to the Dagbon chieftaincy dispute.

They have advised that the right channels and persons be used in restoring peace in the area.

Speaking on behalf of the Andani family in a gathering at Tamale to mark the 15th anniversary of the late Yaa Naa, Mr. Basharu Alhassan Dabal-li said, “Government and politicians should stop interfering in Dagbon chieftaincy matters but rather use their able offices to facilitate the work of the legitimate custodians of Dagbon traditions and customs”.

The family spokesperson insists “Dagbon has an unwritten constitution embedded in its traditional and customary practices and so government in its own interest and the interest of Dagbon must therefore avoid dealing with groups and individuals outside the framework of Dagbon traditional authority”.

They also revealed that procrastination by successive governments to properly investigate the murder of the overlord of Dagbon will not erase the issue from their memory.

The family maintained that failure by the governments to deliver justice all this while has had a toll on the peace and stability within Dagbon.

“Government should be aware that its failure historically to deliver justice where justice is due has only helped in promoting a culture of violence and impunity in Dagbon”, Mr. Basharu Alhassan Dabal-li said.

Background

The Dagbon Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II was murdered in the Gbewa Palace, the seat of Dagbon Overlords, on the night of March 27, 2002 together with over 10 kinsmen months after a chieftaincy dispute erupted between the Andani and Abudu royal gates.

Place of burial and its successive traditional obligations have since been on hold. In an attempt to foster an agreement between the two brothers, a Committee of eminent chiefs led by the King of Ashanti Kingdom Otumfuo Osei Tutu was constituted where a road map to the burial and funeral of the late Na Mahamudu Abdulai, then the burial of the Late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani was drawn.

Attempt to bury and perform funeral rites failed

Before exiting office as the President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor constituted the Committee of eminent Chiefs led by the King of the Ashanti Kingdom Otumfuo Osei Tutu to mediate the process of peace and constitute a road map for next action but that did not bring an end to the feud.

The NDC under former Presidents John Atta-Mills and John Dramani Mahama continued from where the Kufuor-led administration had left off but that again did not work out.

In the first year of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his visit to the Northern Region urged traditional leaders in Dagbon to ensure a burial, funeral, and enskinment of a new Overlord before the 2017 Damba Festival which was held first week of December 2017.

His appeal which he had earlier echoed to some chiefs, who paid a courtesy call on him in September, and October, 2017 did not come into fruition.