Dagbon youth urged not to interfere in chieftaincy matters

Bamvim (N/R), Sept. 25, GNA - The chief of Bamvim, a suburb of Tamale, Bamvim Lana, Mahamadu Abdulai, has urged the youth of Dagbon not to interfere in chieftaincy matters. "Chieftaincy is a sacred institution and issues pertaining to it should be handled by chiefs and kingmakers alone," he said and cautioned them to adhere to the principles of law and order and co-operate with the Committee of Eminent Chiefs' "Roadmap to Peace Document" to ensure a lasting peace in Dagbon.

Bamvim-Lana Abdulai made the call at a general meeting of the youth from the Abudu Royal Family, one of the factions in the Dagbon Chieftaincy dispute at Bamvim on Saturday. He briefed them on the outcome of the recent meeting with the Committee of Eminent Chiefs in Kumasi, following clashes between the youth and the security personnel in Yendi recently, in which three people died.

The Bamvim-Lana said the next step of the Roadmap would be the installation of the regent for the late Ya-Na Mahammadu Abdulai and the subsequent performance of his funeral. "Following the deliberations at our last meeting in Kumasi, we (Abudu and Andani Royal Families) have agreed to install our regent and also perform the funeral of Ya-Na Mahmmadu Abdulai. "There was however a stalemate over the date and venue for the two separate events, which were adjourned to October due to the Ramadan. "We are going to exercise this mandate in accordance with Dagbon custom and tradition and under the auspices of the Committee of Eminent Chiefs", he said. The Bamvim-Lana assured the youth that nothing would disrupt the process as both Royal Families had agreed in principle with each other for the burial and funeral of the late Ya-Na, Yakubu Andani II.

Bamvim-Lana Abdulai said the Abudu Royal Family had committed itself to the due process for peace in Dagbon and would therefore do everything possible to ensure that Dagbon was reconciled on a solid foundation for the prosperity of the people.

"I wish to assure our members and supporters and the entire people of Dagbon that the two families have agreed to co-operate fully with the Committee of Eminent Chiefs.

"We hope that our members and supporters would equally bear with us and refrain from acts that could jeopardise the due process," he added. The Bamvim-Lana called on the local media, especially the FM Stations, to take it as a social responsibility to translate and broadcast the provisions of the Roadmap to Peace document on daily basis for the people to be abreast with the due process. He held that this would avert the misinterpretation and distortions being made about the document to those who had not had access to the document.