Dagbon youth demand end to chieftaincy conflict

Some youth of Dagbon from both the Andani and Abudu chieftaincy gates on Monday poured onto the streets in Yendi, the traditional seat of the Dagbon Kingdom, to demand an immediate resolution of the age-long Dagbon Chieftaincy conflict, which they said had stalled development in the area.

The youth, in a peaceful demonstration dubbed “DI WUMTI”, literally translated as “we are tired”, also demanded a finality to the prolonged chieftaincy conflict that had brought untold hardships to the people and made the area lose its respect as one of the kingdoms with the best traditions and customs.

The protesters also stated that the road map to peace should strictly be followed without fear or favour.

Clad in red attire and carrying placards, some of which read, “We demand peace from our leaders now” and “We are appealing to both gates to end the conflicts now”, the youth later presented copies of their petition to the Kampakuya-Naa, the Bolin-Lana and the municipal chief executive of Yendi.

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Petition

The youth, in their petition, said they were tired of the age-long Abudu-Andani impasse that had crippled development in the area.

“We are sad to say that we are still called derogatory names as the “primitive people”, the “barbarians”, the “bush people”, “sheep”, “difficult people” “liars” and many more, to which we are totally defenceless.

“We sincerely believe the royals (NABIHI) should not hold us to ransom while the rest of Dagbon languish in abject poverty, joblessness and underdevelopment,” they stated.

The youth served notice that they would soon embark on an exercise dubbed “Occupy the palaces and streets” to stop the chiefs from going about their normal activities, “since our progress as sons and daughters of Dagbon is impeded by the chiefs and governments by their actions and inaction.”

Political interference

The protesters also used the occasion to register their displeasure at politicians who had used the factional fight to make their gains and fame in politics, stating that if they would not help in uniting them, they should not help in disuniting them.

“We are sad to say that Dagbon is still the political football of Ghanaian politics, normally used by politicians to advance their selfish political ambitions and in the process foment disunity and bitter hatred among our fold,” they stated

“We have seen the political suicide the entire Dagbon has been plunged into. Our politicians no more get the political appointments they deserve. The few who even get appointments to sensitive positions do not climb higher, sometimes due to the fact that they do not have home backing because of our disharmony,” they added.