I'll Find Ya Na Killers

Ya Na Yakubu Andani II

President John Evans Atta Mills, in his first direct reaction to the High Court ruling on the Dagbon issue, has poured out his frustration and angst at the turn of events, promising to get the killers.

He was speaking to journalists after meeting with the leadership of the Andani Gate to placate them over their anger in reaction to the ruling which freed 15 persons arraigned over the alleged murder of the Ya Na Yakubu II.

President Mills's feelings were contained in his expression that he was frustrated and anguished, adding that it was regrettable that some people were rejoicing over the judgment.

'”I feel nothing but pain, pain, that we are unable to [find the killers.]”

'As a nation,' he said, 'we must be interested in justice. A lot of people are talking about the ruling; it is not whether it is brilliant or not brilliant, the fact still remains that the Ya-Na was murdered… and as a nation, we should be interested in finding out who killed the Ya-Na.'

He said he would not rest on his oars until the killers were found.

An Accra Fast Track High Court, presided over by Justice E.K. Ayebi, a Court of Appeals judge, freed 15 people accused of conspiring to murder the Ya-Na, a situation which infuriated NDC supporters in Tamale into going on rampage and destroying party property in the town.

They said their anger stemmed from the promise made to them by the NDC that when the party came to power, the killers of the Ya Na would be found and brought to book.

Government says it will appeal against the ruling.

The son of the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, also disappointed in government's inability to make good its promise, yesterday told Joy Fm that justice was the only thing they would settle for.

Mohammed Yakubu Andani descended on the NDC and accused them of deception, recalling how, when the party was campaigning, it promised to use the available evidence to find the killers.

President Mills had cut short his tour of the country to meet with the Andani Royal family and the NDC hierarchy in the Northern region at the Castle, Osu.

The delegation was seen during the early hours of Thursday going through departure formalities at the Tamale airport. It included Lawyer Ibrahim Mahama, a nephew of the late Ya-Na, Kumbun-Naayili, Anas Abdulai, who represents the Andani youth, Alhaji Mohammed Bawa Kpan-Naa, a Member of Council of State and the Kponkpon-Lana as well as Alhaji Umar Yussif Alhassan, NDC Regional Secretary.

Deep-throat sources disclosed to DAILY GUIDE the Andani family initially rejected calls by the president to hold a meeting with them at the Castle but upon persuasion, they agreed to make the trip.

Angry and disappointed youth of the party in the region have warned the president to call off his intended visit to the region and accordingly asked the leadership of the party not to endorse his up-coming visit scheduled for next week.

According to them, the safety of the president and his entourage could not be guaranteed following the failed promises.

Earlier reports suggested he had planned holding the meeting with them in Tamale but his security chiefs advised against that decision, following the volatile situation in the region.

It is gathered security details on the ground are currently assessing the situation to determine if it is conducive for his visit but preliminary checks by DAILY GUIDE do not show good signs.

The Gbewaa youth, an offshoot of the NDC in Tamale, say even if the president brings along soldiers to intimidate them, they will also find their way out and deal with anyone who joins him during his visit.

According to Salman Mohammed, spokesperson for the group, they will no longer be cowed into accepting promises by the president who has failed in his 'ship load' of promises regarding unraveling the killers of the chief.

NDC youth, after the ruling on Tuesday, took to the streets and destroyed party and government property estimated at several thousands of Ghana cedis.

They plunged the regional capital into chaos, resulting in the imposition of an 11:00pm to 6:00am curfew in the Tamale Metropolis and its surroundings by the Ministry of the Interior.

On the second day of curfew, three persons including a drinking spot owner, were arrested for flouting curfew regulations and are currently being processed for court by the police.

By A.R. Gomda & Stephen Zoure, Tamale