Twenty-eight people killed in Yendi
conflict buried
Minority calls for change in leadership of Security Network
Ghana bids for closer relations with Viet Nam
Tamale (Northern Region) 01 April 2002 - The Army Commander, Major General Clayton Yaachie has said that all the 28 people, who were killed during the assault on the Ya-Na's Palace in Yendi, were buried on Sunday.
Three of the bodies were not identified and were buried in marked graves. Major General Yaachie, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency, however, declined to say whether the Ya-Na's body was among those buried.
Major General Yaachie said the burial was in two phases, 23 were buried at Sambu, six miles West of Yendi and the rest, who were chiefs and bodyguards of the Ya-Na, were buried at Yendi.
He said the decision to bury them at separate locations was taken by all the stakeholders in the Yendi crisis. On the situation at Yendi, the Army Commander said uneasy calm that prevailed should not be taken for granted adding that the necessary mechanisms were in place to contain the situation.
These include the deployment of many more soldiers to Yendi and Tamale and their immediate environs. Major General Yaachie said the security personnel were guarding all vital installations, mounted roadblocks and going on patrols. The Army Commander commended the inhabitants of Tamale and Yendi for complying with the state of emergency and their resolve to remain calm.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 01 April 2002 - The Minority in Parliament on Friday urged
President John Agyekum Kufuor to "muster courage" to review the
leadership of the security apparatus to restore public confidence.
It also
called for the convening of an emergency session of Parliament in line with
Article 31 of the 1992 Constitution to deliberate on the Yendi situation, a
statement signed by Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader said. The group expressed
concern at the "seeming ineptitude in the handling of security matters in
recent times, resulting in serious bungling in sensitive security
situations."
The
Minority expressed shock that "what began as a minor skirmish in the run
up to the annual Fire Festival has been allowed to degenerate into a massacre
of such tragic proportions," adding that no effective action was taken by
the authorities to ensure the safety and security of the late Ya Na Yakubu
Andani and his palace. While expressing its sincere condolences to the family
of the late Ya Na, the Minority urged them to continue to exercise restraint in
the current crisis.
It also
appealed to the people of Dagbon "not to take any action that would
further jeopardise the unity, stability and peace that had prevailed in the
traditional area over the last few decades."
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Slow
response contributed to violence in Yendi – Govt
Accra
(Greater Accra) 01 April 2002 – The Government has admitted that the slow
response of the security agencies contributed to the escalation of violence in
Yendi. Many Ghanaians have been blaming government for not taking the necessary
steps to avert the clashes that has claimed several lives in Yendi.
Minister
of State at the Presidency, Elizabeth Ohene says if the security agencies had
responded swiftly to reports at the start of the conflict, the loss of lives
and property could have been minimised. She said the security agencies lapsed
into a sense of complacency, resulting in the death of the Ya-Na Yakubu Andani.
Miss Ohene
declined to comment on the whereabouts of the Ya-Na saying that the Dagomba
authorities will be the best people to answer the question. On the Interior
Minister's resignation, Miss Ohene said government accepted it because it
believes the reasons given by the Minister were tenable.
The
Interior Minster who is also the Member of Parliament of Yendi indicated that
he was resigning to ensure smooth investigations into the clashes. Miss Ohene
noted that it was necessary for the Interior Minister "to step aside so
that he will not be linked with the investigations."
She
however noted that the President was reluctant to accept the resignation of the
Northern Regional Minister, who also comes from the area but had to do so to
ensure amicable settlement of the conflict. But the question that most people
are asking is - Were they forced to resign?
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PNC
& CPP Condemn Attack On Ya-Na's Palace
Accra (Greater
Accra) 01 April 2002 - The Convention People's Party (CPP) and People's
National Convention (PNC) have added their voices to the numerous calls on
Government to thoroughly investigate without prejudice, the events that led to
the death and maiming of innocent citizens in Yendi. The CPP condemned the
attack on the palace of the Paramount Chief of the Dagbon Traditional Area,
which led to the gruesome murder of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani.
According
to the CPP, government's investigations must be geared towards establishing the
root causes and identifying the culprits, who should be made to face the full
rigours of the law.
In a
statement signed by its General Secretary, Nii Noi Dowouna, the CPP says the
irreparable losses are bound to leave permanent scars in the royal dynasty of
Dagbon and in the minds of the bereaved families.
The party
however is gratified by the news that the elders of Dagbon have pledged their
total support to the government fact-finding team in their work to assist in
bringing peace and tranquillity to the area. The party extended its heartfelt
condolences to the people of Yendi and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.
The Leader
of the PNC, Dr Edward Mahama for his part, expressed his deepest regret at the
conflict at Yendi, which led to the assassination of the Ya-Na Yakubu Andani
II. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Dr Mahama conveyed his personal
condolences and that of the PNC to the people of Dagbon, particularly, the
immediate family of those who lost their lives in the clashes. He called on the
people of Dagbon both at home and elsewhere to let reason control the urge of
revenge.
Dr. Mahama
urged government not to only investigate the remote causes of the conflict, but
also ensure that it backs its words with action to arrest and prosecute all
individuals involved in the conflict.
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Aflao (Volta Region) 01 April 2002 - Togbe Amenya Fiti V, Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, has expressed sadness and dismay at the murder of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani 11, the overlord of Dagbon. "I was torn apart on hearing of the unwarranted and unnecessary death of our colleague.
"His rich experience in chieftaincy matters, which have helped in propelling the institution all these years are lost unto us", he said in a statement issued at Aflao at the weekend. Togbe Fiti appealed to the government to strengthen its hold on security in the area and to do everything possible to uncover the perpetrators of the disgraceful act.
He also appealed to all Ghanaians, especially those in the north and the factions in the conflict area to remain calm while government played its role to solve the problem. Togbe Fiti said it was time for the government, the chieftaincy institution and the peace loving people of Ghana to take a stand toward finding lasting solutions to the bloody chieftaincy conflicts from deteriorating into large-scale conflicts.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 01 April 2002 - The National Savannah Caucus (NASAC) on Monday appealed to the media to exercise caution, understanding and good judgement in their reportage of the current crisis in the Dagbon Traditional Area.
It also called on the National Media Commission to educate media practitioners on the implications of a state of emergency, which they explained as "you cannot do the normal things because it will affect the attempt to bring back normalcy."
A statement signed by Mr Braimah Abubakr-Sadiq, National Secretary, said the call was based on the fact that the crisis affected the entire north. "We as the Northerners have suffered the loss of human lives and its attendant destruction; we have suffered the virtual collapse of traditional system and also the possible loss of development as a result of diversion of funds for peacekeeping," it noted.
The statement, further said since the farming season was just about to begin, they needed the peace, stability and all the resources to be able to cultivate their lands. It expressed the hope that the media were aware of the fact that the north contributed greatly to the food security in the country, hence, the media had to appreciate these facts in their desire to make news.
The statement said the situation in Dagbon called for respect for the feelings of the victims, the effect of news on the national body politic and national cohesion. The NASAC therefore advised radio presenters and their phone-in programmes to desist from making comments that would further aggravate the situation adding that, "the chiefs and other opinion leaders in conjunction with the government have arisen to the occasion and sanity is prevailing now."
The statement also appealed to the people in Dagbon to let sanity and peace prevail saying, "like President Kufuor said, they should reflect on the consequences of their actions and reactions, how it affect their position in the national political system and how other groups think of them as Northerners in the aftermath of the crisis.
"Are there no other means by which we can solve these problems without much anger and destruction? It asked. The statement said NASAC was encouraged by the resignation of Alhaji Malik Al-Hassan Yakubu, Minister of the Interior and Prince Imoro Andani, the Northern Regional Minister saying; "meanwhile it is hoped that the Northern representation in government would not be lost."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 01 April 2002 - France has expressed its condolence to President John Agyekum Kufuor and the people of Ghana over the tragic incident that occurred in Yendi last week.
A release issued on Monday by the Ministry of Communications said France in a statement dated March 29, 2002, indicated: "We have learnt about the tragic event, which occurred in Yendi. We wish to assure President Kufuor of France's total solidarity."
It said the government of France was confident that the government of Ghana would find a peaceful and equitable solution in the interest of the socio-economic development of all groups involved in the tragedy.
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Ejura (Ashanti Region) 01 April 2002 - Two basic schools in Ejura have been temporary closed down because their school buildings were badly damaged during a rainstorm and they could not be immediately repaired.
The affected schools are the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Primary and the Ejuraman Primary Complex. Ten other buildings including the male and female wards of the Ejura Government Hospital as well as the administrative block of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) had their roofs ripped-off.
More than 200 people have been rendered homeless and property running into millions of cedis was destroyed.
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Dagbamate (Volta Region) 01 April 2002 - Osofo Komfo Kofi Ameve, Head of the Afrikania Mission has ridiculed people including some Christian leaders who shun African Traditional Religion outwardly but visited shrines secretly to seek spiritual assistance.
Addressing over 2,000 followers, priests and priestesses of the Apetorku Cult at their annual convention at Dagbamate, Near Akatsi, he urged followers of African Traditional Religion not to be discouraged when officials failed to turn up or shunned their activities.
"Don't be discouraged when they fail to honour your invitation. Most of them come at the secret hour where they successfully seek assistance," he stated. Osofo Ameve said, "People erroneously think it is civilisation to accept and practice Christianity hence some influential people fail to attend programmes associated with traditional religion so as not to be branded as backward".
He said worship was all about hope and faith and stressed that Christianity was not superior to traditional religion. Osofo Ameve observed that while Africans were abandoning their traditional religion, the "white men" who brought Christianity were now back in Africa "rooting for African traditional religious powers".
"Afa, which is a powerful form of divination, by which Africans uncover intricate spiritual problems is now being learned and practiced by non-Africans even on the INTERNET," he said.
Osofo Ameve asked the followers of the cult to love one another and advised the priests and priestess not to demand exorbitant fees from their clients, adding that, "the love of money, which has taken the upper hand of worship in some religions should not be allowed to destroy African Traditional Religion".
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Accra (Greater Accra) 01 April 2002 - The ten-day exercise to review the voters' register ended on Sunday with long queues at most centres in Accra. The Ghana News Agency (GNA) witnessed long queues at most of the centres, while officials complained of shortage of registration forms.
The exercise intended to cover persons who could not register during the last exercise, those who have turned 18 years and those who have change residence and intend to change their polling centres started on Friday, March 22.
Most of the areas visited including Awudome Kingsway centre, St. Theresa Prep. School at North Kaneshie, Blema Gor at Abeka Market, Blessed Home Prep School at Akweteman, Achimota Prep. School had run short of the registration forms about two hours before the exercise closed.
While Garrison Education JSS at Burma camp, and Airport Police C and D Primary School centres were virtually, Mrs Lankai Tetteh, Registration Official at Kotobabi 3A and B Girls J.S.S. told the GNA that many of the potential voters who could not be registered due to shortage of forms hailed insult at the officials and even attempt to manhandle them.
She said the centre, which covers 21 polling stations registered 150 voters by 1515 hours on Sunday, while a total of 680 were registered during the period. Mr Godson Adika Registration Official at Blema Gor electoral area said the main problem encountered apart from the shortage of forms was attempts by minors and foreigners to register.
He said few individuals who had lost their Voter ID cards also attempted to re-register but were turned out. Most Centres registered between 600 and 1000 voters by the close of registration. Other registration officials called for extension of the exercise to give opportunity due to the shortages.
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Ghana
bids for closer relations with Viet Nam
Accra
(Greater Accra) 01 April 2002 - The Government of Vietnam has expressed its
desire to develop more co-operative relations with Ghana, particularly in trade
and agriculture.
Presenting
his credentials to President John Kufour of the Republic of Ghana earlier this
week, Vietnamese Ambassador Do Cong Minh reiterated the nation's hopes that
co-operative ties with Ghana will grow deeper.
President
Kufour appreciated the tremendous achievements made by Viet Nam in national
economic reform. Kufour said that Viet Nam and Ghana, as two developing
countries and members of the Non-Aligned Movement, have great potential for
co-operation.
The
president said he hopes to boost co-operation with Viet Nam in trade, agriculture,
health care and construction, based on the country's detailed proposals. Viet
Nam and Ghana established diplomatic relations in 1965.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 01 April 2002 - Seoul metropolitan government announced Sunday
that only 2.4% or 73 out of 3,047 parking violation fines imposed on 87
diplomatic establishments were paid last year. Seoul imposed fines totaling
W121.88 million in 2001.
Ghana with
three cases, paid all fines while the United States (66.7%, or 34 out of 51
cases), Brazil (33%, or 3 out of 9) and Australia (25.8%, 8 out of 31 cases)
had the relatively highest rate of paying fines.
By
diplomatic mission, France violated parking laws the most with 372 cases,
followed by Russia with 371, Mongolia with 223, Sudan with 152, Libya with 111
and Algeria with 100. Among them, 68 embassies including France, Russia, Sudan,
and Libya have never paid the penalties imposed, whilst those from Mongolia,
South Africa, Italy and Canada paid only once. Switzerland and the Congo had no
tickets to pay off during last year.
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