General News of Sunday, 17 April 2011

Source: GNA

Yagbongwura affirms his participation in resolving Dagbon crisis

Nalerigu (N/R), April 17, GNA - The Yagbonwura, Tuntumbe Boresa Sulemana Jakpa II, overlord of the Gonja Traditional Area, has affirmed his participation in helping to resolve the Dagbon crisis. The Yagbonwura said he would be part of the eminent chiefs constituted to find lasting solutions to the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis and promised to work assiduously with the Nayire Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai and the Ashantihene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The Yagbongwura Jakpa II in affirming his position with the Nayire at the weekend said, his predecessor, Yabong Wura Bawah Doshie, was one of the three eminent Kings appointed to find lasting peace in Dagbon, hence the need for him (new YabongwWura) to continue from where his predecessor left.

It will be recalled that, last week, the Vice President John Mahama called on the Otumfuo, Osei Tutu, Chairman of the eminent chiefs on the Dagbon crisis, to rekindle efforts to bring peace between the Abudus and the Andanis.

The Yagbongwura, who led a delegation of paramount chiefs from the Gonjaland, spent a night with the Nayire Naa Abdulai, overlord of Mamprugu Traditional Kingdom.

He assured that he was ready to collaborate with them to pursue, with seriousness, measures that will bring peace to Dagbon and the entire nation, adding that, the issue of Dagbon is a national matter that confronts the nation and all efforts must be made to find lasting peace.

"One important thing that borders on life is the security and well being of our people, a peaceful kingdom breeds a rich and prosperous nation", he said, adding that, 93the two Kings needs to re-examine the security of their people and to have faith in each other.

Tuntumbe Jakpa II said the visit was also part of measures to strengthen relationship with the Nayire and his kingdom and expressed his happiness and the goodwill of the people of Gonjaland for visiting the Nayire.

Lepo Wura M. N. D Alhaji Jawula, who traced the historical relation between the Gonjaland and Mamprugu, said before the advent of colonialism, there were only four kingdoms in the country and named them as Mamprugu, Gonjaland, Dagbon and the Ashanti kingdoms. He said the Mamprugu and Gonjaland had never gone to war before and stressed that it was a taboo to do so and called on the people of the two kingdoms to ignore war mongers and stick together to promote development.

Jawula Lepowura expressed the hope that by the end of the year, the three kings would have resolved the Dagbon crisis for a new Yaa-Na to be installed, as the fourth king, and follow it up with a grand durbar.

Nayire Abdulai, who warmly welcomed the Yabongwura to his palace, commended him for the historic visit and said it will strengthen the two ancient kingdoms and further enhance peace and security between them. He said the Northern parts of the country had often been perceived as battle grounds but the Gonja King's visit is an indication that peace could bring development to the people and hoped that such peace would be extended to all parts of the region, especially Dagbon and Nanum.