What appears to be government’s snail pace at renovating the old Gbewaa palace in Yendi in the Northern Region has incurred the wrath of the Abudu Royals who have given government a two week ultimatum to start the renovation in line with implementation of the second lap of the road-map for peace in Dagbon.
The Asantehene led three eminent chiefs committee mediating the Dagbon chieftaincy dispute resolved that funerals of the late two overlords of Dagbon should be performed in the old Gbewaa palace.
Government’s promise to renovate the old Gbewaa palace is yet to materialize.
The Abudu Royals at a news conference in Yendi gave government two weeks ultimatum to renovate the palace or have itself to be blamed for any untoward situation.
“We are compelled under these circumstances to serve notice that if by Monday 25th January 2016 there is no renovation works going on at the old Gbewaa palace for the two funerals, we shall advice ourselves and we intend to explore all means necessary to gain access to the old Gbewaa palace to perform Naa-Mahamadu Abdulai’s funeral.”
The news conference brought together chiefs, Regents and Abudus from all walks of life who chided the government for its lackadaisical approach towards the implementation of the Asantehene led mediation committee’s recommendations.
A statement read by the Abudu Royals Secretary in Yendi, Alhassan Dokurugu reiterated the need for President John Dramani Mahama to fulfill his promise to perform funerals of the late Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV and that of the late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II.
Alhassan Dokurugu served notice that the Abudu royals were impatient over the delay.
“We will like to state that 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 Gushiegu-Naa in the absence of a substantive Yaa-Naa.”
“The fate of our great kingdom cannot be bound to the whimsical delusion of a usurper. We can only achieve lasting peace in the kingdom through the spirit of cooperation, compromise and give and take: we the Abudu royals have demonstrated these qualities throughout the mediation process and the least we expect is commensurate reciprocity but not outright indignation.”
Alhassan Dokurugu maintained President Mahama ought to be honest with the Abudu Royals.
“The President has on at least two different private meetings with the Abudu family assured the family of his commitment to renovate the old Gbewaa palace for the two funerals to be performed.”
He recalled, “During the Damba festival in January last year at Yendi, the President reiterated his commitment to see to the renovation of the old Gbewaa palace for the funerals. As a matter of fact it was based on the assurance by the President through his regional minister of his government’s commitment to renovate the old Gbewaa palace that convinced the Abudu family to join our cousins from the Andani family for the Damba festival.”
“It is unfortunate that upon all these assurances from the President and his government nothing has been about the renovation of the dilapidated palace,” Alhassan Dokurugu lamented.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/Citifmonline.com/Ghana