Ya Na Yakubu Andani’s funeral begins today

The funeral of the late Ya Na Yakubu Andani II begins today, Friday, 4 January to 18 January 2019 at Yendi in the Northern Region.

This follows the successful performance of the funeral rites of the late Ya Na Mahamadu Abdulai IV of the Abudu royal family, which commenced on 14 December 2018 and ended on 28 December 2018.

The Abudus have since vacated the Gbewa Palace to allow the Andanis to begin their funeral today.

The funeral forms part of the roadmap announced by the Otumfuo-led Committee of Eminent Chiefs to restore peace to Dagbon.

Background

The two royal gates of Dagbon have been engaged in chieftaincy conflicts that boiled over on 27 March 2002 and resulted in the assassination of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II and the killing of 30 others.

The government of then-president John Agyekum Kufuor declared a state of emergency and imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the Dagbon Traditional Area.

The Kufuor government set up the Justice Wuako Commission to investigate the crisis and it has since submitted its report.

The government also appointed the Committee of Eminent Chiefs led by the Asantehene to find a traditional solution to the impasse.

On 21 November 2018, the eminent chiefs made up of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Boresa Sulemana Jakpa I and Nayiri, Naa Bohogu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga presented the progress report to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the presence of chiefs from both the Andani and Abudu gates at the Jubilee House.

A new Ya Na for Dagbon is expected to be enskinned after the royal funerals to bring lasting peace to the area.

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com