President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked the new overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Naa Abukari Mahama II, to deal with conflict profiteers in the area in order to safeguard the new peace chapter that has been opened in the Dagbon kingdom.

He wants the new Ya-Naa to put interventions in place to prevent the activities of the conflict profiteers from interfering and derailing the prevailing peace.

“Indeed there is a new term for people who profit from conflict; they are called ‘conflict-preneurs. We have to be resolute in warding off those people by strengthening the process of reconciliation amongst the people of Dagbon,” the President sadvised.

Speaking at the investiture of the new overlord, Nana Akufo-Addo indicated Dagbon can only be brought to its knees by internal forces who seek the downfall of kingdom for their selfish gains.

He said it will take the collective efforts of the Dagbon people and Ya-Naa Abukari Mahama II to fend off these internal enemies.

According to the President, a handful of malcontents, have benefitted for a long time from the 17-year-old chieftaincy conflict, noting such conflict profiteers never wanted to see it end.

To safeguard the gains made, the President said the people of Dagbon should not rest on their oars “and assume that every citizen of Dagbon is elated about the new peace and the enskinment of a new Ya-Naa”
President Akufo-Addo also charged the people of Dagbon to throw their weight behind the new Ya-Naa to help restore Dagbon back to its true state and even better.

He also reposed confidence in Ya-Naa Abukari II, stating that the new overlord is the right man with the best of experiences to help Dagbon bounce back.

“…He is a man of experience and dignity, and I am confident he will discharge the duties of his new office with distinction,” he indicated.

The new Ya-Naa was selected on January 18, 2019 following the performance of the final funeral rites of the two late overlords of Dagbon.

The performance of the two royal funerals were made possible by the intervention of the Otumfuo –led Committee of Eminet Chiefs which spearhearded the Dagbon peace roadmap after almost two decades.

The chieftaincy conflict that characterised the Dagbon kingdom for 17 years left the people without an overlord. It also caused loss of lives while others were maimed.