Council of Elders inaugurated to manage affairs of Dagbon

Yendi (N/R), May 29, GNA - A seven member Council of Elders comprising members of both the Andani and Abudu royal Gates has been inaugurated to manage the affairs of the Dagbon state until a substantive Ya-Na is enskinned.

The Council has the Kuga-Na Abdulai Braimah as chairman. Other members are the Kpa-Na Mohammed Bawa, Song-Lana Abdulai Mahama and Kokon-Lana Ziblim Seini from the Andani Royal family, and Kwori-Lana Mahama Mahama, Bavim-Lana Abdulai Mahama and Mion-Lana Ziblim Abdulai from the Abudu Royal family.

The council was constituted at a meeting between the committee of Eminent Chiefs mediating in the Dagbon Chieftaincy crisis and the representatives of the two Royal families held in Kumasi on March 29.

Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, former Northern Regional Minister inaugurated the Council in Yendi on Monday.

Members of the council are expected to work in consonance with the functions of the sitting regent of the Ya-Na to assist and support him to run the affairs of the Dagbon State until a substantive YA-Na is enskinned.

They will also advise and support the regent to install regents or enskin chiefs whose functions are relevant to the performance of the funerals of Ya-Na Mohammadu Abdulai and Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, respectively, but which skins are vacant.

The council is mandated to ensure that all traditional matters affecting Dagbon are properly handled to avoid controversies and disputes. Major issues outlined in the Dagbon road map to peace concluded in March 29 this year should be cleared with the Otumfuo Committee of Eminent Chiefs at every stage before they are implemented.

The members are expected to work together to ensure that there is mutual trust, cooperation and involvement of the two royal families in every aspect of matters affecting the Dagbon State.

Alhaji Boniface urged the members to espouse the virtues of patience, tolerance and understanding.

"In this way peace, unity and harmony will be cultivated to pave the way for reunifying Dagbon for rapid socio-economic

development and rid the Dagbon State of all forms of confusion

and disorder," he said. 29 May 06