Parliament extends state of emergency in Dagbon
National Prioritisation Exercise to roads
rehabilitation
Parliament extends state of emergency in
Dagbon
All the 128 members present voted in favour of it resolution to extend the emergency status with none against and no abstention. The House resumed sitting after a 12-week recess.
Following the violence at Yendi on 25 March this year which led to the death of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II and many others, the President, on 27 Wednesday declared a state of emergency in the area under the Emergency Powers Act conferred on him by the Constitution.
A dusk-to-dawn curfew was also imposed on the area but this
has since been reviewed to begin from
Considering the fact that circumstances which gave rise to the declaration of the state of emergency has not abated, Parliament have since been extending on a monthly basis due to the delicate nature of the problem in the area.
Calling for the extension of the declaration in a resolution, the Minister of Defence and acting Minister of the Interior, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, said the government is satisfied that the public interest would be best served, if the state of emergency was continued for a further period.
On the current situation in the area, Dr Addo-Kufuor said there is an uneasy calm in the whole traditional area and this fact, he said, can be confirmed by the Parliamentary Committee that recently visited the area on a fact-finding mission.
He said there is still tension in the area and that there are indications of mistrust and suspicion among the two gates, adding that the two parties in the conflict still do not want to socialise or talk to each other and the lifting of the state of emergency at this time may not augur well for the maintenance of peace.
He further indicated that both gates are anxiously waiting for the recommendations of the Wuaku Commission and since one cannot predict the reaction of either of the gates after the report has been released, it is important to maintain the state of emergency to allow the security agencies to retain the initiative and ability to react swiftly to any situation.
He said concerns have also been raised over the burial of the late Ya-Na as his burial could be a potential source of trouble, which could be held in check if the state of emergency was in place.
He said although potential troublemakers have been held in check by the presence of the security agencies, intelligence analysis indicates that weapons and ammunition are suspected to have been kept outside the area with the intention of moving them into the conflict area on the least deterioration of peace and security.
He also said there have been accusations and counter-accusations of the youth of one gate being mobilised to attack the other adding that “the lifting of the state of emergency when the tension has not subsided, could pave the way for the commission of acts of aggression and retaliation.”
Dr Addo-Kufuor stressed that the government is completely neutral in the Dagbon conflict, which is a family feud, adding that "the government will do everything within its powers to study and implement recommendations in the Wuaku Commission's report and the mediation efforts of other personalities".
He stated that, the high sense of professionalism exhibited by the security agencies and their quick responses to calls on breaches of security and assistance to the people of the area provide ample indication that their continued presence will safeguard peace and security there.
He said with the Ramadan approaching, the government is preparing to meet with religious leaders to institute measures to ensure the observance of all religious rites during the period. He said that he is convinced that the maintenance of the state of emergency in the area will serve the best interest of the people.
He expressed the government's gratitude to members of the House for their support since the introduction of the state of emergency and for making national interest paramount in the deliberation of the matter. He expressed the hope that the effective implementation of the expected reports will address most of the socio-cultural concerns raised by the two gates. He also commended the media for being circumspect in reporting on the conflict.
Contributing to the debate on the issue, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni (NDC, Kumbungu) said although he was speaking in support of the resolution, he was not oblivious of the anger and pain of the people who are frustrated because "they are not getting justice".
He said the expectation of the people is that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to book and that justice will be done. He suggested to the government to consider lifting the curfew or restricting it only to Yendi during the Ramadan period to enable the people to observe the festival properly.
Norbert G. Awulley, (NDC, Builsa South) said although conflicts are inevitable in every society, "we should try to avoid conflicts like the one that occurred at Yendi". He was not happy that the acting Minister of the Interior did not provide the House with an update of the situation in Dagbon but only came to the house to repeat statements already made in the House.
He called on members to critically examine the reasons for the extension of the state of emergency so as to help the government find a lasting solution to the problem.
Madam Hawa Yakubu (NPP, Bawku Central) expressed her appreciation to the government for efforts being made to solve the problem at Dagbon. She, however, called on the government to do more to help alleviate the plight of the people especially those who have not been able to cultivate their crops.
Kofi Attor (NDC, Ho Central) urged the government to do what it can to help the people rebuild their houses, while it awaits the report of the Wuaku Commission. The Senior Minister, J.H Mensah, said reasons given by the government for the extension of the state of emergency are not based on what the government thinks about the issue but on the assessment of the facts on the ground.
He said it costs the government about ¢400 million to convene the last emergency meeting of Parliament to extend the state of emergency in September but said it is necessary for the government to institute the needed measures to prevent the reoccurrence of violence in the area.
Other members who also contributed to the debate were Dr Benjamin Kunbuor (NDC, Lawra-Nandom), the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and I.K Adjei Mensah, Deputy Minority Leader. – Daily Graphic
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National Prioritisation Exercise to roads
rehabilitation
He said
experts, after on the spot evaluation of the said roads advised such prioritisation exercise. Dr Anane said this when answering
a question posed by John Tia on behalf of Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, NDC- Wenchi-West
as to what plans the ministry has for the rehabilitation of the Menji-Bui road in the area.
The
Minister said contract for the works was awarded in the latter part of this
year while routine maintenance activities including grading and ditch cleaning
were executed on the road as part of the 2002 maintenance programme for the
Brong Ahafo Region.
Dr Anane
said the 41-kilometre Menji-Bui road is a gravel road
and forms part of the Menji-Banda Nkwanta
road in the Brong Ahafo Region that links the Bole-Bamboi
national road at Banda Nkwanta in the Northern Region
and Wenchi-Sampa Regional road at Menji
in the Brong Ahafo Region, which is in a poor condition.
John
Mahama, NDC- Bole asked the Minister whether rehabilitation of the road would
be extended to cover the roads in the two regions and when it would commence,
the minister gave the assurance that everything was being done to see to its
implementation.
Alhaji
Amadu Seidu, NDC- Yapei-Kusawgu
asked whether in view of the construction of the intended Bui Hydro project the
road works would not be disrupted by the heavy equipment the minister said that
the Bui project was a highly capital intensive project, which would require the
use of roads in the area.
Hon Kwakye Addo, NDC- Afram Plains South asked when the construction of the
Tease-Asempanyin-Koranrteng-Abotan-KwamePong Nkwanta road that leads to major farming areas would
commence. Dr Anane said the road exists as a track which has never been
engineered and is therefore, in poor condition but feasibility studies has just
been completed and engineering studies and design was expected to commence within
the year.
He said
rehabilitation of the road was expected to commence by October next year after
the completion of the engineering studies and design. The road is to be
rehabilitated under the Feeder Roads Improvement Programme to be funded by the European
Union.
John Tia, Deputy Minority Chief Whip on behalf of Abraham Owusu Baidoo, NDC Twifo/Hemang/Lower Denkyira asked whether he would consider tolling the
Dr Anane
said the bridge was the property of the Ghana Railways Corporation and, after
negotiations in 1994, the Ghana Highway Authority
rehabilitated it for the dual purpose of carrying both rail and vehicular
traffic.
He said as
a policy, tolling was carried out only on paved roads but notwithstanding that,
tolls may be considered after the upgrading works on the rest of the sections
of the road have been completed.
GRi…/
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