The Abudu Royal in Dagbon has given government and the Otumfour Osei Tutu II committee a two weeks ultimatum to grant them access to the Gbewaa Palace for the performance of the funeral rite of its late Regent or they explore all means necessary to gain access
They said when that happens they should not be blamed for any situation in the area.
Vahindi Naa, Dr. Nantogmah Mahama, spokesperson for the family in a mammoth press conference in Yendi said the Family have been patient and silent for too long and wish to express their frustrations and disappointment in the peace process promulgated by government and the Otumfour committee of Eminent Chiefs.
First of all, the family said the committee has failed to enforce or implement provisions of the Roadmap document but rather has sanctioned or ignored several violations of the Roadmap document by the Andani Family citing an instance where the committee according to them had legitimized the office of Kug-Naa who was enskinned by the Kampakuyana-Naa in flagrant violation of the Roadmap document.
The Vahindi Naa by the statement accused the Asantehene committee of failure to enforce or implement any single provision of the document that seeks to bring relief to the Abudu Family.
He observed that the Asantehene committee had conveniently discarded the Roadmap to peace and are now operating under the whims and caprices of the so called Kug Naa who they termed as “usurper, biased and illegal” in this matter
The Abudu Royal said ever since the President asked the committee of Eminent Chiefs to resume their mediation process in April 2014 they have cooperated with the committee on their effort to bring lasting peace to the Dagbon kingdom
According to them, they have continued to impress on their family members, supporters and sympathizers by always giving them hope to remain calm and keep peace in Dagbon, however, the lack of commitment and effort by government and Asantehene to commence work on the renovation of the Gbewaa palace is not promising
They added “there is growing frustration and despondency, increasing degree of mistrust and disbelief among our supporters, the creeping lost of faith in the peace process is very dangerous to the fragile peace in Dagbon”
The statement charged that the family had advanced a compelling reasons why the funeral should be performed in the Gbewaa Palace and will not perform the funeral anywhere else, other than the Gbewaa Palace.
It ended by saying “We are compelled under the circumstances to serve notice that if by Monday, January 2016 there is no renovation works going on at the Gbewaa Palace for the two funerals we shall advice ourselves. We intend to explore all means necessary to gain access to the Gbewaa Palace to perform Naa Mahamadu Abdulai’s funeral.
The Abudu Royal Family should not be blamed for any situation in the area if the Asantehene committee and the President continue to follow the intransigent and misguided counsel of the Kug-Naa who has usurped the powers reserved for the Gushe-Naa in the absence of a substantive Ya-Naa”.
