Wuaku Commission: Andanis & Abudus almost clash

The Wuaku Commission of inquiry on Thursday had a hectic time as a result of a near clash between the Abudus and Andanis before and after its sitting. But for the timely intervention of security personnel, members of the two gates would have gone beyond the verbal exchanges and re-enacted what happened in Yendi in March this year. Before the commencement of the sitting, one of the Abudus greeted an Andani lady, who was only identified as Mariama, and this was what sparked-off the quarrel.

Mariama refused to be greeted saying "if you have killed my father why are you coming to greet me?" These comments resulted in verbal exchanges between members of the two Gates who had gathered at auditorium. Security personnel who quickly moved in had a hectic time bringing the situation under control.

Mr. Justice Isaac Newton Wuaku, chairman of the Commission advised members of the two gates to "learn to live together peacefully as one people in Sunyani so as to be able to live as such back home". He asked counsels for the two gates to advise their clients to behave well towards each other to make the work of the Commission easier.

After the sitting, members of the Andani gate expressed indignation as to why the Abudus were escorted outside the auditorium before them. They began murmuring and the youth among them started forcing their way out but the security personnel prevented them from doing so. Some of the Andani youth were heard questioning, "are they superior to us?, whilst an elder among them retorted "this is neo-colonialism".

One of the security personnel later explained that they only escorted the Abudus out first to prevent the re-occurrence of what happened at the beginning of the sitting. "We could have even escorted the Andanis first and this should not be misunderstood as giving preferential treatment to the Abudus".

The Commission members, who had then retired to their chamber, had to rush back to the auditorium to address the two gates again. Mr. Justice Wuaku warned that the Commission had the powers of a high court and had every right to charge anybody for contempt. He said the consequences of a contempt charge would be unpleasant, since anybody charged with that "would be made to change his place of abode".