Government To Assist In Burial Of Ya-Na

Mr J.H. Mensah, Senior Minister, has assured the people of Dagbon of government's assistance towards a fitting burial for the Ya-Na, Yakubu Andani II.

In this regard, government is soliciting the advice of three prominent chiefs on how best all the necessary customary rites could be performed before an appropriate date for the burial is fixed by the traditional authorities.

They are the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II; the Yagbonwura, Bawa Doshie of Gonja Traditional Area; and the Nayiri, Mohamadu Abdulai-Gamni, Paramount Chief of the Mamprugu Traditional Area.

Mr Mensah said this on Saturday when he led a government delegation to Yendi to assess the current security situation in the area.

Other members of the delegation were Major Courage Quarshigah (Rtd), Minister of Food and Agriculture; Madam Hawa Yakubu, Minister of Tourism; Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Government Spokesman; and the Acting Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ernest Debrah.

The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Issah Ketekewu; Lt-Colonel Dela Sakyi, Commanding Officer of the Sixth Battalion of Infantry; and the Regional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Kwaku Dzakpata, accompanied the delegation.

The Regional Security Committee (RSEC) in Tamale and the District Security Committee at Yendi briefed the delegation on the security situation in the area.

Mr Mensah said the government had set up a commission of inquiry to go into the Yendi skin crisis to find a permanent and lasting solution to it.

He said the commission would begin its sittings in Sunyani on Wednesday, May 29, and appealed to all those with information on the crisis to appear before it to give evidence.

He gave the assurance that government would provide security for such people and the commission.

Mr Mensah said the rule of law and order would be maintained at Yendi and Dagbon in general to allow law-abiding citizens to go about their normal activities without hindrance.

The Senior Minister and his entourage later inspected the destroyed palace of the Ya-Na.

He asked the regional engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr John Tetteh, to sketch a plan of the palace, cost and submit it to government for the rehabilitation work to begin.