General News of Friday, 19 July 2002

Source:  

Kufuor will visit Yendi at the right time - Jake

Government on Thursday said the President would decide when it was right for him to do what he should do, including visiting Yendi. This was in reaction to calls from the Minority in Parliament for the President to visit the Dagbon Traditional Area after the clashes between the two gates to the royal skin, which led to the assassination of the Ya Naa.

A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs said, " Once again, we would caution and urge the minority and others with warped parochial intent to desist from playing partisan politics with the matter already so tragic and with scope for worse."

" What we have in place now is a fragile peace and too many trouble makers trying desperately to peel the scabs off slowly healing wounds. In this tragedy, we believe that quiet diplomacy, sincere caring and adult behaviour will ultimately prove a longer lasting balm and solution than performing dramatic acts for the benefit of the media," it observed.

It said the government continued to sympathise with bereaved families and urged all to continue to work for lasting peace in Dagbon. The statement reiterated the President's concern and attempts to bring peace to the area and genuine reconciliation.

Citing the President's initiative of committing three eminent chiefs whose daily concern was to bring the two sides together and also the setting up of the Wuaku Commission to bring comfort of justice to the situation, the statement said the President was in full consultation with leaders of both sides of the family and until the tragedy, he used to call on the late Ya Naa and the Regent during his visits there.

"Our hearts continue to be with the bereaved families and we continue to urge all men and women of goodwill to continue to work for lasting peace in Dagbon and amongst all our citizens," it noted.

It said, "God willing, a real and genuine peace will be achieved. The late Ya Naa will be buried with the dignity of a great King and both sides will have been sufficiently reconciled by the genuine efforts being directed by the President to be able to sit together with their President."