New Ragent of Dagbon makes appeal

Yendi, (NR), April 21, GNA - The newly enskinned regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Na Abdulai Yakubu Andani on Friday appealed to people of Dagbon to eschew violence and disrespect for authority so as to draw the road map for peace and sustainable development.

He also called on both the Abudus and Andanis to forget about "Gates" and see one another as brothers to ensure that Dagbon went back to its past status as a great Kingdom with a rich culture to attract investors.

Kampakuya-Na Yakubu Andani stated this in a speech read on his behalf in Yendi when he was officially enskinned on Friday as the regent for the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, who was buried about a fortnight ago. There were smiles and expression of joy among the people who thronged Yendi to witness the historic event, which attracted people from Tamale and other villages in Dagbon, who exhibited Dagbon culture and tradition.

The security personnel could not control the crowd when the regent made his first public appearance and had to allow the large crowd who were there to catch a glimpse of him.

The regent said, "As Regent, and acting Ya-Na I have on my shoulders an onerous duty of securing the unity, peace, security and development of Dagbon within the nation context. During my regency, I will solicit the support of everyone to ensure a united and peaceful Dagbon, which is neither for the Andani Family or Abudu Family but a Dagbon for Dagombas living everywhere".

He said what the country was witnessing was the end product of efforts of stakeholders of the peace process through the Otumfuo Mediation Committee to resolve the crisis that engulfed Dagbon in 2002 and appealed to all to let the past belong to the past and forge ahead in unity.

He said there was the need for the government, the Committee of the Eminent Kings, the Northern Regional Security Council, NGOs operating in the region and loyal citizens of Dagbon to remain resolute in consolidating the successes chalked so far in the peace process.

Kampakuya-Na Yakubu Andani called on President J.A.Kufuor to work assiduously to ensure that those who offended the law, resulting in the death of Ya-Na should be brought to book no matter their political background for total peace to prevail.

He appealed to other chiefs and elders in Dagbon to play positive roles to restrain the youth from misapplying their youthful exuberance so as not to engender disharmony and social upheaval.

He said as regent he knew that the destiny of Dagbon had been temporarily entrusted in his hands and that he would cooperate with the family of the late Ya-Na Mahamadu Abdulai to perform his funeral rites, according to the customs and traditions of Dagbon.

Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Northern Regional Minister appealed to people of Dagbon to accept mistakes and blames together and should ask for forgiveness from Allah for lasting peace.

He called on both Abudu and Andani families to respect the Committee of Eminent Kings to ensure that the roadmap to peace in Dagbon would be completed so that there would be reunion among the people. He said the youth from Tamale and Yendi were always in the centre of every conflict in Dagbon and pleaded with them to see peace as their watchword and allow sanity to prevail in Dagbon.

The Minister appealed to the regent to use his wisdom and interact with the youth and other opinion leaders to give peace a chance. Mr. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah, Minister of the Interior, who led government delegation to the programme, expressed joy that peace was finally returning to Dagbon and called for sustained unity, peace and understating between the two gates. 21 April 06