As the people of Gonjaland (Gbanya State) prepares for the funeral of the great King Yagbonwura Bawa Abudu Doshie (the peace maker) who passed away on 2nd January 2010 at the age of 102yrs.

The executives and entire members of Gonjaland Association – UK would like to eulogise the great king for his peace. Since most Ghanaian readerships only have the opportunity to read negative news from the Northern part of the country, we think it is incumbent on us to highlight the good works of the late Yagbonwura. Who directed his energies towards peace and development in the region.

Due to his relentless campaign for peace, in 2002 the erstwhile Kuffour administration nominated him as a member of the committee of eminent chiefs to mediate for peace in the Dagbon Conflict, the committee chalked some success in the mediation process but unfortunately The Yagbonwura did not live to see the elusive peace come to Dagbon. It is our hope and prayers that peace would come to all parts of North and Ghana in general, in honour of the great king.

In his quest for peace, the late Yagbonwura also realised that poverty is always a recipe for chaos and has the potential to destroy any peace for anarchy to take over. He appealed to the previous NPP and the present NDC administrations for mechanised farming in Gonjaland, considering the size of arable land, water and human resources in the area. Because the people are mostly peasant farmers, without access to loans or farming equipments to cultivate their land, most of the land lies fallow and poverty became rife in the region prompting migration of the people south for non-existing jobs.

The patriot and hero advocated and petitioned the erstwhile NPP and the present NDC administrations for the division of the present Northern region for effective administration and accelerated development in the North. It is our fervent hope that the division of the region would be carried out by the present administration to improve on the lives of our people in honour of the great king.

As the funeral of the late Yagbonwura and the enskinment of the next king approaches, we would like to assure all Ghanaians that; the election and enskinment of the next Yagbonwura will be done in accordance with laid down time tested Gonja customs for peace.

Despite his age (102yrs.) the late Yagbonwura realised that his people and indeed the Northern part of Ghana needs peace for its socio-economic development. The great king was a real hero, a patriot, a peace maker, a mediator, a great thinker and above all a God fearing Great grandfather.

We salute you, The Great King. “Awo di Yagbon, Ebore eyinafo, nsufo edesekpa lalla”

Source

Awudu Sannie

Vice-Chair

Gonjaland Association - UK