Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, leader of the Committee of Eminent Chiefs tasked to solve the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis, has asked anyone in possession of any evidence concerning the killing of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II in 2002 to present it to them in assisting to get to the bottom of the crime.

Presenting the committee’s peace roadmap to President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, 21 November 2018, the monarch of the Asante Kingdom said they acknowledge that some factions lost their relatives in the conflict which saw the Overlord beheaded along with 30 of his servants, adding that: “That is a criminal aspect if that is so. But then to hold that to ransom so that Dagbon cannot carry on, I will die and Asanteman will continue”.

“If there is any evidence at all, I have told them all; if anybody has evidence to the effect [as to] who killed the Ya Na, I have asked that they should present a report to us (Committee of Eminent Chiefs). We will tell the president, the security agencies will investigate and prosecute,” he noted.

“It is open for them to come. Tell us if you have any evidence at all as to why, who killed the Ya Na? We are prepared to prosecute…,” he stressed.

After three days of unrest and sporadic violence, the Gbewaa Palace, the residence of the Overlord, together with thirty surrounding houses, were torched. Thirty members of the Overlord’s household and other members of the community were killed and several others injured.

The Overlord’s body was dismembered, decapitated and set on fire. His head was paraded on a spear and parts of his body were paraded around town.

The Dagbon crisis has persisted for the past 16 years and has cost both the area and Ghana immensely in terms of security, development and resources.

President John Kufuor in 2006 established the Committee of Eminent Chiefs and tasked them to lead mediation efforts between the two royal families with the view to finding a peaceful resolution to the matter. Chaired by the Asantehene, the other members include the Nayiri, Mahamid Sheriga and the Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Boresa I.

The differences between the parties have traversed the Kufuor, Mills and Mahama eras.