Resort to compromises for peace, unity in Dagbon — Youth group

A youth group calling itself Dagbon Malima Zungo (DAMAZ) has appealed to both leaders of the Abudu and Andani Royal families to as a matter of urgency to resort to compromises and sacrifices for the sake of lasting peace and unity in Dagbon.

The group said the leaderships of both Royal families, the Committee of Eminent Kings mediating the Dagbon conflict led by the Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II, who is also the Asantehene, and the government machinery should consider the interest of the future generation and stay above their parochial interest and handle the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis to achieve the desired purpose.

A statement issued in Tamale last Tuesday and signed by the Chairman of the group, Alhaji Jagbo Baako, said for the past 15 years, Dagbon had been at a standstill, over a crisis that dated back to the 18th century, and stressed the importance of peace and unity in Dagbon and the Northern Region as a whole.

Appeal

The statement claimed that: “Vested interest and selfish desires of some people in Dagbon have held the entire kingdom to ransom,” and appealed to the feuding parties to let sleeping dogs lie and allow peace to reign for Dagbon to gain its past glory.

“While thanking both factions for their commitment in the peace process for over a decade now, we would like them to reflect on the membership of the various families who initiated the process in the committee, some of whom are dead and consider the current membership as a true working group to seek lasting peace.

“The leadership of both families undoubtedly is not the same as well as the committee itself has a replacement to its membership because of death, which should remind us that death is inevitable,” and advised those in leadership positions to be reminded that death awaited them and they would be called upon to account for all deeds on earth.

Meeting

“Observing the committee’s sitting with both families on October 29, 2017 at the Manhyia Palace, some of us retired to our hotel rooms in total silence and lost appetite for food because of the entrenched position from both parties”, the statement said.

The statement said events that took place there were “pitiful, shameful and fearful and makes the future of Dagbon very bleak if it is left in the hands of these feuding factions to decide on what to do and what not to do”.