We Are Not Gagging the Press - Jake

Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister for Information has stressed that the demand that reports on the situation in Dagbon in the Northern Region, should be referred to his ministry before going public, is not an attempt to gag the press.

"We are not trying to gag or censor the press on issues emanating from Dagbon, but trying to work with the press so that, they do not report on the issue at stake in an exaggerated manner," Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey said.

At a meeting with the media in Accra yesterday to deliberate on major points of concern relating to the state of emergency in the North, the minister called on the press to be circumspect and co-operate with the government to achieve peace in the area.

As to leaving the vetting to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), National Media Commission (NMC) or the Security Council, Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey conceded that those organisations have the capability to judge good reportage and promised to extend the task to them in due course.

On the State of Emergency powers vested in the President, he quoted from Article 6 under Act 472 of The Emergency Powers Act, 1994, which stipulates that, "on the declaration of a state of emergency under section 1 of this Act, the President may take such measures as he considers are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists during the period that the state of emergency is in force."

Article 8 under the same Act also states that anyone who defaults rules of the State of Emergency should be detained as explained by the constitution.

Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey said to discover the brains behind the crisis and to avoid further occurrences, the government has taken a non-partisan approach.

The President has set up a Mediation Team led by the Senior Minister, Mr. J.H. Mensah to collaborate with chiefs and elders of Dagbon from the two factions to ensure peace.

Three member-chiefs of the Mediation Team are: Nayir Mohammed Abdulai Gamale, the Yagbunwura Bawa Doshie and the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The Ghana News Agency reports that the Army Commander, Major General Clayton Yaachie says all the 28 people, who were killed during the assault on the Ya-Na's Palace in Yendi, were buried on Sunday.

Three of the bodies were not identified and were buried in marked graves.

Major General Yaachie, however, declined to say whether the Ya-Na's body was among those buried.

He said the burial was in two phases, 23 were buried at Sambu, six miles West of Yendi and the rest, who were chiefs and bodyguards of the Ya-Na, were buried at Yendi.

He said the decision to bury them at separate locations was taken by all the stakeholders in the Yendi crisis.

On the situation at Yendi, the Army Commander said uneasy calm that prevailed should not be taken for granted, adding that the necessary mechanisms were in place to contain the situation. These include the deployment of many more soldiers to Yendi and Tamale and their immediate environs.

Major General Yaachie said the security personnel were guarding all vital installations, mounted roadblocks and going on patrols.

The Army Commander commended the inhabitants of Tamale and Yendi for complying with the state of emergency and their resolve to remain calm.

France has meanwhile expressed its condolence to President John Agyekum Kufuor and the people of Ghana over the tragic incident that occurred in Yendi.

A release issued on Monday by the Ministry of Communications said France in a statement dated March 29, 2002, indicated: "We have learnt about the tragic event, which occurred in Yendi. We wish to assure President Kufuor of France's total solidarity."

It said the government of France was confident that the government of Ghana would find a peaceful and equitable solution in the interest of the socio-economic development of all groups involved in the tragedy.