Abudus take their case to UNDP

By Chronicle reporter
A frustrated Abudu Royal household in Dagbon has gone international with their complaints, after the government's seeming unwillingness to address the concerns of the other half of the Dagbon dispute.

The Abudus have petitioned the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) accusing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration of President John Evans Atta Mills of open bias in handling the Dagbon issue.

In a four-page petition handed over to the UNDP country representative in Ghana, the Abudu Royal Gate claimed that the Mills government was continuing to support the Andanis to violate the roadmap to peace, which was agreed to and signed by all the parties involved.

Signatories to the petition are the Nanton-Naa Sulley Alhassan, the Boling Lana Abdulai Mahamadu, Major Sulemana Abubakari (rtd), Tolon Naa and Iddrisu Iddi Mbadugu.

The petitioners said they suspect that the enskinment of new chiefs to vacant positions in Dagbon by the Kampakuya Naa Andani formed part of a grand ploy to perform the funeral of the late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II.

They recalled the appointment of a senior officer of the UNDP, Mr. Ojiello, who was attached to the committee of eminent chiefs to offer technical and legal guidance to the committee, and urged the UNDP to use his expertise to advise the government to act responsibly in resolving the Dagbon issue amicably.

They commended the UNDP for the great concern it showed when the conflict broke out in Yendi in March 27 2002, and admonished it to ensure the smooth implementation of the roadmap to peace document.

Some major highlights of the roadmap to peace were the burial of the late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II, the installation of his Regent, the performance of the funeral of the late Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV in the old Gbewaa Palace in Yendi, the performance of the funeral of the late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II, and the installation of a new Yaa-Naa.