Parliamentary Committee investigates Yendi conflict

Mr Joseph Darko-Mensah, Member of Parliament for Okaikoi North and Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee investigating the Yendi conflict has called on the people of Dagbon to bury their differences and let peace prevail.

He said Parliament had been working closely with government towards a lasting solution to the conflict to ensure peaceful co-existence between the factions in the crisis. Mr Darko-Mensah said this when he and the 13-member Parliamentary Committee met with the Northern Regional Security Committee at Tamale on Monday.

He said the committee was in the region to find out the real situation on the ground and advice the government accordingly as to what measures was to needed to be taken. The committee among others would ascertain the security of people, suggest measures to mitigate the suffering of the people as well as find out if there have been excesses on the part of security agencies in the discharge of their duties, especially during curfew hours.

Mr Darko-Mensah said Parliament was handling the Yendi conflict on non-partisan basis and said the House would not politicise the issue. The committee would pay a courtesy call on the regent of Tamale Naa Ziblim Abdulai, interact with social groups and individuals, observe the curfew hours, visit Yendi to meet the District Security Committee and also call on the Andani and Abudu gates.

Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, MP for Gomoa West and a member of the committee, appealed to the Andani and Abudu gates to co-operate with the committee to find a lasting solution to the conflict.

Mr Ernest Debrah, Acting Northern Regional Minister gave the assurance that the Regional Co-ordinating Council would support the committee. He said the peace and security of the Northern Region should be a matter of concern to all Ghanaians.