Regional News of Saturday, 8 December 2018

Source: Abdul Karim Naatogmah

Dagbon matters: Old Gbewaa Palace construction 70% complete

The Gbewaa Palace under construction The Gbewaa Palace under construction

Construction of the Old Gbewaa Palace in Yendi in the Northern Region is 70% complete.

The works Supervisor, Yakubu Alhassan in an exclusive interview promised to complete the project on schedule.

He called for the maximum cooperation of residents of Yendi.

Government on Tuesday December 4, 2018 officially handed over the project to the works Supervisor.

He was given a week to complete the project in preparation for the performance of funerals of the late two Overlords of Dagbon, Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV and Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II.

Final roadmap

The Committee of Eminent Kings mediating the chieftaincy dispute between the Abudus and Andanis in Dagbon at its last sitting in Kumasi came out with the final road-map on Friday November 16, 2018. It was resolved that the funerals of the two late overlords of Dagbon should be performed in the old Gbewaa Palace in Yendi.

The Abudus are to begin with the funeral of the late Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV from December 14 to 28, 2018. This will be followed by the funeral of the late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II from January 4 to 18, 2019.

Nana Addo endorses final roadmap to peace in Dagbon

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has issued an Executive Order on the final road-map for the restoration of peace in Dagbon. The Asantehene-led three eminent Kings Committee today, Wednesday, presented the road-map to the President at the Jubilee House.

The President’s Executive Order paved the way for the performance of the funerals of the late two overlords of Dagbon, Yaa-Naa Mahamudu Abdulai IV, and Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II in the old Gbewaa Palace in Yendi.

Chairman of the eminent Kings Committee, the Otumfour Osei Tutu II, at the ceremony at the Jubilee House, said the committee’s duty was to restore the customs and traditions of the Dagbon traditional area and restore peace there.

He said the report of the committee among other considerations was to give credence to the Supreme Court ruling that the late Yaa-Naa Mahamudu Abdulai IV died as a legitimate Yaa-Naa for which reason his funeral should be performed as such.

The Asantehene recounted the challenges encountered by the committee during the mediation processes which started as far back as the era of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo described the final road-map to peace in Dagbon as a memorable occasion in his lifetime as President.

He commended former President John Agyekun Kufour for establishing the eminent Kings committee whose work according to the President has been vindicated.

He thanked the three eminent Kings for their tenacity and resilience even when the process appeared hopeless at some point.

President Nana Addo insisted the late two Yaa-Naas’ funerals should be performed in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Dagbon traditional area.

He pleaded that the enskinment of a new Yaa-Naa should be devoid of bloodshed.

He said government would not relent in its efforts to permanently tackle the problem.

The Andanis were represented by HE. Vo-Naa Alhaji M. B Bawah, Warvi-Naa Andani Mahama, Lamashegu Naa, Alhaji Ziblim Abdulai, Zangbaling Regent, Yakubu Mahama, Tibung Regent, Abdulai Abukari, Gbermanda, Mahama Yakubu and Saha-Naa Abdul Latif Abubakari.

The Abudus were represented by the Regent of Regent of Tolon, Retired Major Sulemana Abubakari, Nantong, Saaka Sulemana, Diare Regent, Abubakari Abdulai, Mba Dugu, Iddrisu Iddi, Bo-Naa Alhassan Bukari, Kunkon-Lana Abdulai Yakubu, Banvim-Lana Mahama Abdulai and Korli Regent, Mahama Mahama.

Abudus and Andanis unity walk

A cross section of Abudus and Andanis in Dagbon, earlier this month demonstrated their spirit of togetherness during a Unity Walk organized by the Dagbang Malima Zungo (DAMAZ) youth group.



The Unity Walk in Tamale brought together people from both sides of the chieftaincy divide in the Dagbon State.

They held placards with inscriptions such as, “Dagbon needs peace for development,” “Dagbon must rise again,” “The youth are in support of the roadmap to peace,” and “We need Yaa-Naa now.”

They commended the Asantehene-led Mediation Committee for the final roadmap to the restoration of peace in Dagbon.

Dagbon Forum lauds Asantehene Mediation C’ttee’s final road-map to peace

The national wing of Dagbon Forum on November 19, 2018 lauded the final road-map to the restoration of peace in the Dagbon State. It added its voice to calls on the two royals in Dagbon to strictly abide by the final road-map to the restoration of peace in Dagbon.

Vice President of the Dagbon Forum, Sintaro Mahama at a news conference in Tamale described the final road-map by the Asantehene-led Committee as a sigh of relief to the people of Dagbon.

He said the Dagbon Forum would remain vigilant against hostile and aggressive tendencies seeking to undermine the efforts of the Otumfou Mediation Committee to permanently resolve the Dagbon chieftaincy impasse between the Abudus and the Andanis.

Sintaro Mahama called for adequate security measures to avert any untoward situation that might mar the two funerals performance.