The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has called on the government to relieve Lt Gen Joshua Hamidu, the National Security Adviser and Major Abubakar Sulemana (rtd) of the National Security outfit, of their duties with immediate effect.

It said the move is to ensure that the Justice Wuaku Commission does a through, fair and objective investigation free from any governmental control or bias. A statement issued in Accra on Saturday and singed jointly by Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi, the National President and Mr Ben Nutsukpui, National Secretary of the GBA, said its position is informed by the serious allegations made by the Andani Gate against General Hamidu and Major Sulemana over the events leading to the death of the Ya-Na and 40 others in the Yendi factional fighting in March this year.

It said it has taken cognisance of the fact that the two occupy very high and sensitive positions in the national security apparatus. ?The GBA cautions that to ensure peace in the Dagbon area, nothing should be done to shake the confidence of the people in the Justice Wuaku Commission as well as the government?s pledge to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crimes to book and not to shield any wrongdoer,? the statement said.

It said the GBA notes with approval, the resignation of the former Interior Minister, Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu and the former Northern Regional Minister, Prince Imoro Andani, from their positions to ensure unbiased and unimpeded investigations into the matter.

The statement said the GBA has taken note of the appointment and the swearing in of the Justice Wuaku Commission of Enquiry charged with investigation of the events that happened in Yendi between 25 and 27 March 2002, resulting in the tragic death of the Ya-Na, Yakubu Andani II and others at the Ya-Na?s palace.

?The GBA strongly urges Ghanaians, citizens of Dagbon and the leaders of the Abudu and Andani Gates in particular, to cooperate with and assist the commission by placing at its disposal all available evidence on the events and to ensure a thorough and objective work.?

The statement congratulated members of the Commission on their appointment and called on them to painstakingly and diligently unearth the circumstances leading to the events at Yendi and expose the perpetrators of the heinous acts, so as to ensure that a lasting solution is found to the Yendi crisis.

?The GBA urges government to provide the commission with top-brass investigators and supporting staff which the GBA considers a necessary requirement if the commission is to conduct thorough and diligent investigations,? it said.

But in response to the Bar association?s call, the government has made it clear that General Joshua Hamidu and Major Abubakar Sulemana are not in any position to influence enquiries into the Yendi crisis. It said the perception that the two are in a position to influence investigations into the conflict is misinformed.

Reacting to the call by the GBA Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, said in an interview in Accra on Sunday that General Hamidu and Major Sulemana do not wield the influence that people continue to suggest.

?We have noted that people are misinformed about the role that the two gentlemen play and the influence they can have on either the police enquiry or the Justice Wuaku Commission of Enquiry,? he said. He explained that government would do everything that it is capable of, to empower the commission to carry out its work in the most independent way.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the government is fully cognisant of the need to have the report of the commission of enquiry accepted by all Ghanaians, and particularly by those who have been directly affected by the events in Yendi in particular, and the Dagbon area in general.

He reassured all Ghanaians, particularly citizens of Dagbon, that the government will work to bring peace and order to that traditional area and asked those still harbouring doubts about the government?s sincerity to rethink their positions.