Preparations for the final funeral rites of the late Ya-Na Mahamudu Abdulai IV will begin this morning (Thursday).

Scores of people including chiefs are expected to throng the historic Northern Regional town of Yendi ahead of the ceremony.

The son of the late Ya-Na is expected to occupy the old Gbewaa Palace for the first time since it was renovated. The process follows a roadmap presented by the Committee of Eminent Chiefs for peace last month.

The Northern Regional Police PRO, DSP Yusif Tanko in an interview with Joy FM said some major routes will be closed and night patrols intensified ahead of the funeral.

“A lot of arrangements will be instituted to erect snap checks at the entrances of Yendi, we’ll also have to conduct vehicular and foot patrols and do night patrols. The funeral grounds itself we’ll station enough men there to be able to control the teeming crowd that will be coming.”