Hundreds of Abudu Royals in Dagbon on Thursday took to the streets of Yendi in protest against the three eminent chiefs mediating the Gabon chieftaincy conflict between the Abudus and Andanis.
They held placards some of which read, “Abudus are also Ghanaians and therefore demand their part of the Otumfuo share”, “Naa Mahamadu’s legitimacy by Supreme Court”, “Roadmap abandoned by committee”, “Dagbon is on time bomb- the youth need peace”, “selective implementation of the roadmap is the problem”,and “Otumfuo tell the world the one thing that favours the Abudus.”
They presented a petition headlined “Renovation of the old Gbewaa Palace” to President John Dramani Mahama through the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji Issah Zakariah.
The Abudu Royals’ Secretary, Dokurugu Alhassan, read the petition part of which stated, “We wish to formally petition the high office of President of the Republic of Ghana to as a matter of urgency order the renovation of the old Gbewaa Palace for the Abudu family to perform the funeral of the late Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abduali IV.
“Alternatively, we appeal to the President to effect the immediate handing over of the dilapidated Gbewaa Palace to the Abudu royal family for same.”
Dokurugu Alhassan noted that, “the Abudu family is willing and ready to renovate and occupy the old Gbewaa Palace for the sole purpose of performing the funeral of late Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV.”
He stressed that, “We are convinced that our demands are within your powers to exercise under the constitution of the Republic of Ghana. We provide herewith both legal and customary reasons supporting our position that the funeral of late Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV must be performed in the old Gbewaa Palace unconditionally with the full complement of all the rights that are accorded a deceased Yaa-Naa.”
The demonstration was generally peaceful as 120 police personnel protected the demonstrators.
The Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, commended the organizers for a peaceful protest.
The Yendi Municipal Chief Executive, Issah Zakariah, commended the protesters for their civil conduct and promised to forward the petition to the President.
He urged residents of the area to deepen their peaceful coexistence and pledged his commitment to transform the municipality in line with the Government’s better Ghana agenda.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana