N/R Minister worried over chieftaincy, land disputes

Moses Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister

The Northern Regional Minister, Moses Bukari Mabengba, has expressed

worry over the numerous chieftaincy and land disputes which have brought the name of the region into disrepute, and was affecting its socio-economic growth.

The Minister cited the over eight-year Yendi/Dagbon chieftaincy dispute, which led to the death of the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, the Bimbilla and Buipe chieftaincy crises, as well as the frequent turmoil in Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo, as major hurdles impeding the development and attainment of peace in the region.

Mr. Mabengba expressed the worry at the Northern Region's version of the 'Meet the Press'  organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Information, in collaboration with the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), in Tamale on Monday.

What seems to compound the headache of the Minister was the level of damage caused during violent clashes in the region, including loss of human lives, and burning of houses and other valuable properties.

However, the Regional Minister expressed joy over how the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), in a strong partnership with the police and military, had been able to step up efforts to contain the security situation in the region.

Mr. Mabengba, who is also the Chairman of the REGSEC, has however managed to stem the numerous highway robberies that were being recorded in the region, especially, on the Tamale-Kintampo, Tamale-Wa and Tamale-Bolgatanga roads.

A joint team of police cum military, put together by the REGSEC, and led by the Regional Commander of Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Angwubutobge Awuni, succeeded in arresting Ghana's most notorious criminal, Johnson Kombian a.k.a. 'Burger,' who used to harass and rape traders at gunpoint, ,even killed two armed soldiers and also broke into police armoury at Napkanduri, and stole weapons and uniforms.

To further ensure the total comfort and safety of passengers and residents of the area, the Minister pledged the government's continuous support for the security personnel, and also announced that the National Security Council had also released a new 4×4 vehicle to the highway patrol team.

He also bemoaned the nefarious activities of Fulani herdsmen in most communities in the region, which Mr. Mabengba noted, had been another worrying security situation.

The Minister therefore, appealed to chiefs, district security committees and other stakeholders, to closely monitor the activities of these Fulanis, in order to ensure that there was peace and stability across the region.

He conversely condemned the activities of National Democratic Congress (NDC) footsoldiers, which sought to put the incumbent government in a bad light.

According to the Minister, his administration would no longer tolerate any form of lawlessness and indiscipline by the footsoldiers, and enjoined the security services to deal with them appropriately.

A Deputy Minister of Information, Mr. James Agyenim-Boateng, on his part, lauded the good efforts of the ruling government in ensuring development and creating job opportunities for the youth and women.

In reaction to a question from the media, which portrayed the NDC government as being unfriendly to the media, the Deputy Minster completely denied the issue, and re-affirmed the governments' commitment to maintaining a cordial relationship with the media, to deepen the country's democracy.

According to Mr. Agyenim-Boateng, the NDC had made the Castle, the seat of government, more open and friendly to journalists than any other government of Ghana, and promised continuous cooperation between the media and the ruling government.