NGO condemns ban on Abudus from celebrating Damba festival

The Northern Youth for Peace and Development (NYUPED) has condemned the ban on Abudu Royals from celebrating the final lap of this year’s Damba festival in Yendi.

The Northern Regional Security Council directed security operatives in Yendi to stop the Abudus from celebrating the Damba festival which comes off this Thursday.

Ahead of the ban, a combined military/police team on Monday allegedly raided the Abudu Regent, Boling-Lana Mahamadu Abdulai’s palace.

This was reported to have heightened tension in Yendi Township particularly the Nayili-Fong electoral area.

Reacting to the decision, the Northern Youth for Peace and Development described it as unjust and cautioned government against towing political lines on matters regarding chieftaincy particularly in the Dagbon State.

The organization’s Executive Director, Prince Hardi Adams in an interview condemned the alleged brutalities recorded at the Boling-Lana’s palace.

‘The way the Police and the Army are handling the situation is not fair, is like they are barking one side; what we are saying is that the Abudus have their civil right to celebrate the Damba festival, we are now in democracy, so everybody has the right to celebrate.’

He commended the Rawlings regime... ‘In Rawlings time which many people perceived there was not much democracy, both sides were celebrating the Damba festival and that is why as a peace organization we are advocating that the Abudus should be allowed to celebrate the Damba festival.’

‘So why is it that at this time when President Mahama who himself is a northerner is allowing these things to take place, he must intervene in this matter.’

Prince Hardi has therefore made a passionate appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene for peace to prevail in the Dagbon state.

He also took a swipe at the National Peace Council over its silence on the seeming tension in Yendi saying, ‘Let’s forget about the National Peace Council, they don’t do their work, they are only dancing to the tune of government; look at what is happening in Yendi and the National Peace Council is saying nothing about it.’