Slow Response Contributed To Violence In Yendi - Govt

Government has admitted that the slow response of the security agencies contributed to the escalation of violence in Yendi. Many Ghanaians have been blaming government for not taking the necessary steps to avert the clashes that has claimed several lives in Yendi. Minister of State at the Presidency, Elizabeth Ohene says if the security agencies had responded swiftly to reports at the start of the conflict, the loss of lives and property could have been minimised. She said the security agencies lapsed into a sense of complacency, resulting in the death of the Ya-Na Yakubu Andani.

Miss Ohene declined to comment on the whereabouts of the Ya-Na saying that the Dagomba authorities will be the best people to answer the question. On the Interior Minister’s resignation, Miss Ohene said government accepted it because it believes the reasons given by the Minister were tenable.

The Interior Minster who is also the Member of Parliament of Yendi indicated that he was resigning to ensure smooth investigations into the clashes. Miss Ohene noted that it was necessary for the Interior Minister “to step aside so that he will not be linked with the investigations.”

She however noted that the President was reluctant to accept the resignation of the Northern Regional Minister, who also comes from the area but had to do so to ensure amicable settlement of the conflict. But the question that most people are asking is – Were they forced to resign?