Andani Family Annoyed With Attorney General

The Andani Royal Family of Dagbon has questioned the Attorney Generals directive for one of the key witnesses in the recent clashes at Yendi to be released from custody. According to the Andanis the release of the witness could destroy the gains made so far in restoring unity in Dagbon.

The Attorney General is reported to have earlier this month issued a directive ordering the release of Yidana Sugri, a member of the Abudu gate who was arrested to aid police investigations into the Dagbon clashes in March.

Members of the rival Andani gate believe that the conduct of the Attorney General after the assassination of the Ya Na only confirm their profound scepticism about government’s professed commitment to ensure that the perpetrators of the crime are apprehended and brought to justice.

The Andanis also say that the order for the release of the witness, which came almost immediately after he had given a critical evidence to the Wuaku Commission does little to inspire confidence in the neutrality of the Attorney General in the matter. The Andani family said Yidana Sugri recently appeared before the Wuaku Commission and gave a very graphic and horrifying account of what he said he saw on the murder of the Ya-Na and about individuals involved in one way or the other in the murder. “So critical was his testimony that the Commission declined a request from counsel of Abudu Gate to grant him bail. In denying the motion, for bail for Yidana Sugri, the Wuaku Commission must have been guided by the level of involvement of Yidana Sugri in the circumstances of the murder of the Ya Naa”. The Andanis therefore wondered why the Attorney General defied the Commission’s directive to detain the suspect and ordered the release of Yidana.

The Andanis are concerned that the release of Yidana will affect the work of the commission since he will “come into contact with those forces that are committed to stifling the truth about the murder of the Ya Naa”. The group also expressed concern about comments made by the Attorney General in connection with the funeral and succession of the late Ya Naa when the current crisis in the Dagon area had not been solved.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra, spokesperson for the Andanis, Dr. Wayo Seini said the Andanis will take their concerns about the government’s handling of the Dagbon crisis and the whole justice system in Ghana to the United Nations. But they believe that it is not too late for President Kufuor to act to restore a certain measure of confidence in his earlier promise to the Chiefs and people of Dagbon and the entire nation to unearth the truth about the conflict.