Kufuor, Mills To Meet On Dagbon

Efforts are underway by President John Agyekum Kufuor to rally round the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer and former Vice President, John Evans Atta Mills as well as other competitors at this year's presidential election, to forge ahead a united front in the nation's battle against possible post election violence, especially in the pro-NDC enclave of Dagbon in the Northern Region.

Sources close to the presidency told this paper that the incumbent President-elect is making moves to shape out and all encompassing administration in his second term and that moves were underway for President Kufuor to meet his fellow competitors at Tuesday's polls to lead the way in showing Ghanaians the way forward out of a potential divisive nation.

The date for the meeting, which was yet to be confirmed, would see President Kufuor meeting Prof Mills and Edward Mahama and the CPP's Aguddey to see how to resolve differences in Dagbon.

Part of the agenda for the meeting would be how the main political leaders could liaise to prevent post election violence after Tuesday's successful elections.

Already pocket of violence and tension seem to emerging in the NDC stronghold of Tamale.

The aspiring NDC candidate Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni and incumbent MP for Kumbungu was reported to be in Tamale to help 'cool' down tempers, following suspected mismanagement of the charged traditional/ political situation in Dagbon by some military officers last week.

Tension has been simmering in Tamale following the strange death in military custody of Alhaji Issah Mobilla, the Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People's party (CPP) after he was arrested by the police and handed over to the military.

The police searched the house of the deceased who was also the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) branch chairman of the Bolgatanga station in Tamale, on allegations that he had weapons.

Family sources say though the police did not find any weapons in Mobilla's house, they handed him over to the military, which subsequently reported his death.

The principal streets of Tamale were deserted and stores along the main road to Bolgatanga deserted with people selling on the shoulders of the road absent.

Indiscriminate gunshots could be heard at Sakasaka, a suburb of Tamale throughout Wednesday night and Thursday morning, reports suggests. Mr. Ephraim Barakatu, the Northern Regional Police Commander, confirmed Mr. Mobilla death to newsmen but said he did not know the cause of death.

Reached for his comment on the reported plans by the presidency to meet leaders of the opposition parties, the Executive Director of the West African Network for Peace (WANEP), Mr. Emmanuel Bombanday, said apart from such a meeting having a direct impact on the political atmosphere as a whole, it could have a bigger impact on the resolution of the Dagbon crisis.

He said whereas many Ghanaians perceive the Dagbon crisis as a dispute on traditional matters, the pattern of voting of the indigenes of Dagbon in Tuesday's election, showed that it is also a political issue.

Mr. Bombanday said whereas Andanis, who mostly voted for the NDC by the voting pattern think that they are victims of the political regime: Abudus, who largely voted for the NPP believe that the status quo is okay and that justice was rendered through the Wuaku Commission.

In their view those with evidence should come up with it.