Children Of Late Ya Na Demand Justice

The over hundred children of the late Dagbon King, Ya Na Yakubu Andani have renewed their call on President Kufuor to find the murderers of the Ya Na. They appealed to the President to ensure that the security agencies find and prosecute persons who murdered their father. In a petition issued in Tamale the children say the killers must be found before president Kufuor exits from office in January next year. The petition argued that the report of a special police investigation team dated May 7, 2002 provided preliminary evidence for apprehending the culprits. Joy News’ Mahama Shaibu reported that Wednesday’s call was the third time the children were demanding justice since 2002. The last call was made a few months ago through the committee of eminent chiefs led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II which is mediating the crisis. But the children say nothing had been heard since then. The petition claimed there was a grand design to use the security personnel to force the regent out of the Gbewa palace to allow the Abudus to perform Na Mahamadu’s funeral. That they said was calculated at forcing them to inadvertently perform the funeral of the late Ya Na. “We wish to state emphatically clear that we do not envisage a situation where the Andanis will get our approval to perform the funeral of our father without us knowing who killed him”, the petition stated. Relating to this the Andani youth also issued a statement in Tamale saying under no circumstance will the Kampasiya Na leave the Gbewa palace for the funeral of Na Mahamadu. The statement claimed the Otumfuo committee was in the process of getting the government to implement its proposal to get the Abudus to perform the funeral of Na Mahamadu at the Gbewa palace. That they said could serve as a precursor for disturbing the peace in Dagbon. Meanwhile the two rivaling royal gates are due for Manhyia on Thursday, April 17, to continue discussions on the traditional aspects of the crisis. Discussions in which intransigence take precedence over compromise and bargain.