Dagbon state of emergency extended

Parliament, by a unanimous decision yesterday, extended the declaration of a state of emergency in the Dagbon Traditional Area for one more month begining from June 16, 2002.

Following the violence at Yendi on March 25 which led to the death of the Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II and many others, the President, on Wednesday, March 27, declared a state of emergency in the Dagbon Traditional Area under the Emergency Powers conferred on him by the Constitution.

A dusk-to-dawn curfew was also imposed on the area but this has since been reviewed to 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Considering the fact that circumstances giving rise to the said declaration of the state of emergency have not abated, it was extended for six weeks in early April and again extended for one more month, effective May 16.

Calling for the extension of the declaration in a resolution, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Nana Akuffo Addo , said the acting President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, is satisfied that the security situation in Dagbon, does not warrant the lifting of the state of emergency and that, it is in the public interest that it should be maintained for a further period.

He said although reports indicate that the situation in the area has improved and is expected to improve further, there are reports of importation of arms into the area.

He said apart from this, the funeral of the late Yaa-Na is yet to be performed while the issue of a successor has not been settled.

Seconding the motion, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, NDC member for Kumbungu and Minority Spokesman on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, described the imposition of the state of emergency as "a necessary evil" because under the circumstances, the fundamental human rights of the people are not enforceable.

He said there has been complaints of brutality, as well as degrading and inhuman treatment meted out to the people by some of the security personnel, adding that “there are further incidents of arrest, detention, intimidation and oppressive searching of the people.”

He said he has written to the Attorney General to provide detailed information on the said reports and expressed the hope that it will be promptly attended to. On the imposition of curfew in the area, he suggested that the time should be changed from 9 pm to 5 am to 10 pm to 5 p.m. to help the people, most of whom are farmers and traders, go about their activities peacefully.

The Minority Chief Whip and NDC member for Avenor, Mr E. K. D Adjaho, said matters of national security should not be politicised.

He, however, said his only problem is that since the conflict occurred in March, the President and Vice have not visited the conflict area. The Majority Leader, Papa Owusu Ankomah, said the government is sensitive to the plight of the people.

He said at the appropriate time, the President will make a public statement on the situation.

Alhaji Mohammed Issa Abah (NDC, Chereponi) said the state of emergency is not synonymous with curfew and therefore thinks the curfew imposed should be lifted or the current time extended.

Summing up, Nana Akuffo Addo said he does not think there will be difficulties in changing the time of the curfew as suggested by some of the MPs. He also gave assurance that all information and allegations of various forms of indisciplined acts will be investigated and anybody found to have fallen foul of the law will not be spared because the declaration of a state of emergency should not lead to the rampant violations of the rights of the people. He said the President has been receiving daily briefing on the situation in the area and will visit the place as soon as the security agencies advise him to do so.

Mr Kwabena Adjei (NDC, Biakoye) threw the House into laughter when he said it is "important for the President, who is the father of the nation and the chief mourner, to visit the area, to mourn with the people". During question time, Mr Joseph Tsatsu Agbenu, (NDC, Afram Plains North), asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, what emergency financial assistance his ministry plans to give the Kpando and Afram Plains District Assemblies to repair the ferry which plies between the two districts.

He said, the assemblies concerned are expected to use the revenue from the operations of the vessel and revenue generated locally from other sources, to maintain and operate the vessel.

He, however, gave the assurance that, he is in contact with the Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC) and the Merchant Bank, to raise funds to acquire a reliable vessel for the people.

Answering a question from Alhaji Mohammed Seidu Issah Abah (NDC, Chereponi) as to when the area will be upgraded to a district status, the minister said the request will be considered alongside 70 petitions received from various parts of the country on the same issue.

Asked by Mr Ransford Yaw Agyepong (NPP, Suhum) whether the ministry plans to provide landfill sites for disposal of garbage in the other regional capitals apart from Accra, Mr Baah-Wiredu said it is the responsibility of the various district assemblies to establish, maintain and carry out services for the removal and destruction of all refuse and filth in their respective districts. The House also ratified an agreement between the Government of Ghana and the OPEC Fund for International Development for the encouragement and protection of investment.

In a statement on the Ghanaian attitude towards state property, Mr A. Adjei-Yeboah, (NPP, Tano South) advised all individuals charged with the responsibility of managing the nation's property, to do so with care