Yendi crisis Committee starts work

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday asked members of the three-member Judicial Committee of Inquiry into the Yendi crisis, to make the cause of the crisis public and bring the perpetrators to book.

He said although some calm had been restored in the Dagbon Traditional Area, the Committee should investigate the crisis thoroughly and submit a report to government within a month. President Kufuor, who inaugurated the Committee at the Castle, Osu and administered the official oath and oath of secrecy to members of the committee, gave the assurance that offenders, when identified would be made to face the law.

Mr Justice Isaac Newton Kwaku Wuaku, retired Supreme Court Judge and Chairman of the Committee said the magnitude of the crisis required patience and circumspection to come out with a good report, adding that the committee would be candid as to what happened and come out with a report that would be acceptable to the citizenry. "We would endeavour to achieve the desired result".

Other members of the Committee were, Professor Kwesi Yankah, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ghana, Legon and Mrs Florence Brew, an Educationist. Between 25 – 27 March, this year there were clashes between the two main gates in the Dagbon Traditional Area on succession to the Ya Na Skin during their annual Fire Festival.

About 40 people, including the Ya Na Yakubu Andani II, lost their lives and property worth several million cedis as well as the Gbewaa Palace at Yendi were vandalised and destroyed.