General News of Monday, 12 January 2015
Source: citifmonline.com
The Regent of Tolon has questioned the locus of the three eminent chiefs committee headed by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, whose task is to amicably resolve the protracted Dagbon chieftaincy dispute.
The Tolon Regent, Major (Rtd.) Sulemana Abubakari is convinced the Otumfuo Mediation Committee is cosmetic on the face value, in its attempt to permanently resolve the Dagbon chieftaincy dispute.
He exclusively spoke to Citi News at his palace on the occasion of the 2015 Damba festival.
The Tolon Regent, who is a member of Abudu’s representation at the Manhyia Palace, underscored the need for the Abudu and Andani royals to trace their history to help them address the root cause of the disputes.
According to Major (Rtd.) Sulemana Abubakari, either the overlord of Mamprugu Traditional Area or the overlord of Nanung Traditional Areas should be made to head the committee to solve the feud.
He said: “As Dagombas, we should try and solve our own problems. We have got brothers, and we have got sisters, the Moshis are there, the Mamprusis are there, why can’t we go to them?”
He recalled how, “they used the Dagbon traditional system in the past to solve our problems.”
According to the chief, “now that we the chiefs have realized the harm that the conflict has caused Dagbon, it is important for us to put behind us all that engendered the crisis and lay the foundation for a lasting peace so that Dagbon can be developed to keep pace with the rest of the country.”
He was confident that a new chapter could be opened if only the Abudu and Andani Royals will rekindle their ancestral roots.
“It is only when we come together that we can plug all the loopholes outsiders and politicians have over the years used to divide our ranks.”
The Tolon Damba was celebrated in a grand style as sons and daughters from home and abroad, chiefs, the clergy and tourists participated.
The participants were thrilled to variety of local drumming and dancing.