...After Occupation Of Ya-Na's Palace

Calm is gradually returning to Yendi, after almost one week of tension following the occupation of the Ya-Na’s Palace by a group of young men and women.

The riots that ensued among the squatters over the weekend, after they had been ordered out of the palace, have also been brought under control.

The people, however, succeeded in re-roofing and plastering almost all the rooms of the palace that were burnt and vandalised during the conflict between the Abudus and Andanis in March 2002.As a result of the occupation of the palace, workers on the temporary palace building, which is about 80 metres from the former, had to abandon work to avoid any confrontation.

According to the Northern Regional Crime Officer, Mr Redeemer Vincent Dedjoe, the people finally vacated the palace after the Northern Regional Security Council, led by the Regional Minister, Mr Ernest Debrah, and some representatives of the three eminent chiefs had made several appeals to the people to do so.

The officer said some of the squatters, who were peeved that they could not regain access to the palace at the weekend, accused their colleagues of betrayal, resulting in quarrels and the subsequent destruction of some New Patriotic Party (NPP) flags and symbols.

At the moment, the palace is under a joint military cum police guard. The security forces have also intensified their patrol of the town to ensure peace and order. No arrest has been made.