...for Fear of Further Violence

On the recommendation of the Regional Security Council in the Upper West, Naa Yakubu Seidu, the newly enskinned Wa Naa, has agreed to postpone his outdooring for the time being in order to prevent any possible flare-up of violence in the region.

Although the National House of Chiefs confirmed the legitimacy of his enskinment almost three months ago, there are genuine fears that any overt celebrations may spark off an episode of violence similar to the tragic events in Yendi recently. Seidu's enskinment, which went ahead on March 11, has been disputed by all three of the Yejihi, Nagera and Junyosi gates.

The Regional Security Council met with a delegation from the Wa Naa a week ago, and explained that, "in view of the general insecurity in the North following the Yendi chieftancy crisis and its likely spill over to the other vulnerable areas, the new Wa Naa [is] advised to step-down the outdooring."

The delegation, "willingly accepted the advice," explained a government spokesperson, and the postponement was later announced on radio.

No violent incidents have yet been recorded in the Wa area, but security personnel from the Air Borne Force detachment and the Police remain on alert in the area as a preventive measure.

Meanwhile, the state of emergency remains in place in Yendi, although the government informed members of the press at the daily briefing yesterday that, "calm and peace is holding; all had been quiet."

The only exceptions to this are the intermittent violations of the dusk-till-dawn curfew in the area; fourteen people have been arrested since Saturday, all, "going out to buy cigarettes, collect water, and so on."

The restrictions remain in place indefinitely, though, with the government reaffirming its determination not to allow anything to undermine the overall security of Ghana.

"Nobody," a government spokesman stressed, "will be allowed in the name of chieftancy, religion or whatever to sacrifice the greater good of the nation for some individual interest."