Refusal to accept gifts surprising — NRCC

THE Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) has stated that the gifts from the President to the wives of the late Ya Na was not the first by the government and, therefore, the reasons given in rejecting the recent gifts are very surprsing.

The donation was rejected by the wives on the grounds that by Dagomba custom, widows do not receive gifts from outsiders. Reacting to comments made about the refusal of the wives of the late Ya Na to accept the President’s donation, the RCC stated that the widows had earlier accepted gifts from the government through the Acting Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ernest A. Debrah.

A statement signed by the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Issah Ketekewu, said “the council wishes to inform the public that the presentation to the Ya Na’s widows on October 10, 2002, was not the first of its kind” adding that “since the crisis, government relief items including large quantities of rice, corn, mats, bucket, blankets among others have been sent to the widows and they accepted them.”

It said: “when Hon Alban Bagbin led a delegation to Tamale and Yendi, he made a presentation to the widows and they accepted.” The statement said “the council wishes to ask whether Hon Alban Bagbin or the NDC is a member of the Ya Na’s family?” It also said “quite recently, the former President, J. J. Rawlings is reported to have made a donation to the widows when he called on them on his way to the late Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia’s funeral and this was accepted.

It added that “on September 17, 2002, the Acting Northern Regional Minister, Hon Ernest A. Debrah presented four bags of corn and four bags of rice plus an amount ?2 million to the late Ya Na’s wives through Lawyer Ibrahim Mahama and Alhaji Sheriff, Managing Director of Savana Construction Company at the house where the wives are staying.” The statement said the gifts were received by Alhaji Sheriff who thanked the Regional Co-ordinating Council and went further to say that what was presented was small and that they will be happy if the government will make it a point to help in the maintenance of the widows and noted that this plea was communicated to the President.

“The Regional Co-ordinating Council wishes to know whether at the various times that these presentations were made, the Dagomba tradition did not exist, adding that “Lawyer Ibrahim Mahama and Alhaji Sheriff are both nephews of the late Ya Na. Why did they not refuse the items since the act was against Dagomba tradition?” The statement said the Yendi crisis has a national dimension and every Ghanaian worth his or her salt is mandated to help bring peace, unity and reconciliation to the people of Dagbon.

“We urge all Ghanaians especially the press and politicians to show patriotism by preaching peace and advocating reconciliation in Dagbon rather than fanning flames and inciting passions in the area,” the statement added.