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The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has warned that any government appointee who will undermine efforts by the government to find a peaceful resolution to the prevailing Dagbon chieftaincy disagreements will be duly sanctioned.

The President said, the government was committed to working with all stakeholders to bring a peaceful closure to the protracted dispute to ensure accelerated development in the area and would, therefore, not countenance any acts or utterances by any appointee that would derail the process.

The President, who expressed his willingness to ensure lasting peace in Dagbon, further resolved that those involved in such infractions would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Courtesy call

President Akufo-Addo was reacting to concerns raised by the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Na Abdulai Yakubu Andani, during a courtesy call on the latter at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi last Saturday as part of the President’s two-day tour of the Northern Region.

The Kampakuya-Na, who is also the acting President of the Dagbon Traditional Council, earlier raised concerns about some government appointees whose actions and utterances were undermining the customs and traditions of Dagbon at a time efforts were being made to bring lasting peace to the area.

He, therefore, entreated the President to whip such officials in line. “You need to take steps to ensure that your appointees buy into your policies and also adopt attitudes that will promote early elimination of the canker that continues to undermine the peace and stability in Dagbon with implications for the motherland at large," the regent stated.

Commitment

The Kampakuya-Na expressed his commitment and readiness for a peaceful resolution of the Dagbon dispute based on the customs and traditions of the Kingdom.

He stated that, "Any act that undermines the foundations of our age-long customs will eventually come back to haunt us."

According to him, “There is only one traditional overlord in Dagbon. Any act that suggests a creation of a parallel system can only worsen our plight rather than promote the peace and tranquility that the people deserve.”

Appeal

The Kampakuya-Na also appealed to the President to help address the perennial water shortages in Yendi and its environs during the dry season. He noted that the water treatment plant currently in use was inaugurated in 1953 and had since not been replaced or rehabilitated.

The regent commended the government for the “war on illegal surface mining”. He, however, expressed concern over a recent invasion of some parts of Dagbon such as Savelugu and Pigu by some illegal miners and called on the minerals commission not to grant permit to persons on the pretext of setting up quarries as a conduit to engage in illegal mining.

The Kampakuya-Na further appealed for the retooling and upgrading of the Yendi Hospital into a centre of excellence since it served as a referral centre to most districts in the Eastern Corridor.

President

President Akufo-Addo, for his part, expressed appreciation to the regent for his fight against illegal surface mining in his traditional area, saying: “The fight against galamsey is a fight for future survival.”

On the water situation in Yendi, he said the government had secured $30million for the upgrading and expansion of the Yendi water system and that work would commence next year.

The President also pledged his commitment to improve conditions at health centres to ensure quality health care to the people.

He also called on the Bolin-Lana, Abdulai Mahamadu, at his palace in Yendi.

Background

This is the second time President Akufo-Addo has paid separate courtesy calls on the Regent of Dagbon and the Bolin-Lana in their palaces in Yendi, the seat of the Dagbon Kingdom, as part of efforts to reconcile and unite the two royal gates in the Dagbon chieftaincy disputes, the Andani and the Abudu royal families respectively.

His first visit was after he was elected as the President in the December 7, 2016 general election.