Abudu, Andani Gates blamable for Yendi violence

The Wuaku Commission says individuals from both the Abudu and Andani Gates were to blame for the violent incidents at Yendi between 25 and 27 March this year, leading to the death of the Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II and 30 others.

It, however, exonerated the former Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, the former National Security Adviser, Lieutenant-General Joshua Mahamadu Hamidu, Major Sulemana Abubakar (rtd) and Alhaji Mohammed Aminu Amadu, a businessman, from any complicity in the disturbances and the killing of the Ya-Na.

Also free of involvement is the Bolin Lana, Mahammadu Abdulai the head of the Abudus in Yendi. These were part of major findings contained in the Commission's Report to the Government released on Monday.

The Commission said it identified as a major cause of the disturbances the longstanding chieftaincy dispute between the two gates and the non-observance of the funeral of the late Mahammadu Abdulai IV.

Other reasons assigned by the Commission for the disturbances included the illegal stockpiling of arms by both gates and the security services inability to prevent it. The rest were the hasty lifting of the curfew and the ban on the celebration of the Bugum Festival by the then Regional Minister, Prince Imoru Andani and the assault on Ziblim Abdulai by Abudu Youths in the morning of 25 March.

The Commission in its recommendation asked for the arrest and prosecution of the alleged killers of the late Ya-Na, Yidana Sugri and Iddrisu Gyamfo and several other individuals for their alleged complicity in various other offences.

It has also approved specific measures against some public officials for dereliction of duty such as the then Regional Minister, Prince Imoru Andani, the Yendi District Chief Executive, Mohammad Habib Tijani, and some security officials.

The Commission also recommended that Ibrahim Mahama, a lawyer, be referred to the General Legal Council for necessary action for suborning witnesses. Other recommendations include upgrading into a garrison the military detachment in the Yendi area to ensure stability, a clamp down on and disbanding all private armies operating outside the auspices of the Ghana Armed Forces and a ban on the celebration of the Bugum Festival until a Ya-Na was enskinned.

In addition, serious efforts should be made to revive the Dagbon Traditional Council, made up of all accredited and recognized members, preservation of the body of the late Ya-Na currently at the Yendi Hospital until its burial, according to custom.

The Wuaku Commission was established to make full, faithful and impartial inquiry into the circumstances leading to the events in the Dagbon Traditional area, to recommend appropriate sanctions for those responsible or involved in the violence and the resultant deaths and injuries.

It began sitting on 25 May this year and presented its Report to the President, John Agyekum Kufuor on November 6.