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General News of Wednesday, 23 April 2003

Source: Ghanaian Chronicle

Disturbances in Gonjaland, Yagbonwura warns against destabilisation

Following disturbances at Kafaba in the East Gonja district of the Northern region, the king of the Gonjas, Yagbonwura Bawa Doshi Abudu, has directed political administrators who fall under his jurisdiction to summon all parties involved to his palace at Damongo.

The Yarbonwura said that he would not tolerate anybody who wants to destabilize the current peace prevailing in Gonjaland.

"To ensure peace and stability, I caution all Gonjas, particularly those involved in the violence at Kafaba, to be mindful of whatever they are doing."

The Yabognwura gave the directives when ministers of state, members of parliament and district chief executives (DCEs) from Gonjaland paid a courtesy call on him at the palace at Damongo.

Yabgonwura Doshi explained that he was inviting the parties fighting over who is the rightful person to be en-skinned as chief at Dafaba to his palace in order to put the right things in place to ensure peace in the area.

The king indicated that at present, the people of Gonjaland are eager to have a region so he does not want to see his people fighting among themselves, or even fighting other people within Gonjaland. He stated, "the land needs peace and the kingdom wants to maintain the peace and stability they are already enjoying."

Responding to the directives of the Yagbonwura, the leader of the delegation, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo, Alex Seidu Sarfo, assured the king that his directives were in order and they were prepared to act on it as quickly as possible.

The MP, who is also the deputy minister for Roads and Highways, reiterated that there was the need for peace in Gonjaland. He said without peace it would be difficult for any investor to invest in the area.

Later in an interview with Chronicle, the DCE for East Gonja, Bismark Dari, said the directives given by the Yagbonwura would be taken to the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for further action.

It would be recalled that about two weeks ago, two gates clashed at Kafaba over the rightful person to become the next chief at the village. Many people sustained severe injuries as a result of the incident.

Meanwhile, the Yagbonwura has called on the government to revisit the agreement made between the government and the people of Gonjaland on the Mole national park.

Yagbonwura Doshi I regretted that the royalties that were being paid was very meager. He made the call when he was addressing the 27th annual national delegates congress of the Gonjaland Youth Association at Damongo.

Another area of concern the king made was on the Northern Gold Mines. He appealed to the government to expedite action on the project so that it could create jobs for the youth in the area.

Hon. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, in-coming minister for Education, Youth and Sports who was the guest of honour, commended the Yagbonwura on his role during the Dagbon crisis.

Hon. Baah-Wiredu contended that the country is endowed with people of wisdom and therefore there is no need to import people from elsewhere to solve problems in the country.

It would be recalled that during the heat of the Yendi crisis, the Yagbonwura, Nayiri of Mamprusi and the Ashantehene were appointed by the president to find an amicable solution to the Yendi incident.