Give Peace A Chance In Dagbon

Many efforts have gone into finding an amicable settlement to the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis, especially after the death of Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II in 2012.

Governments, peace-building and peace-loving bodies and individuals have, over the years, played their part in ensuring that the crisis that has for years denied Dagbon peace and development is dealt with once and for all.

The road to peace has been chequered and rough at times, but the country and its friends and individuals did not give up in their determination to ensure that peace is brokered to see the success of their initiative.

In fact, the Daily Graphic will not be far from right to say that the two Royal gates of Dagbon, the Abudus and the Andanis, had failed to abide by the laid down framework for peace all these years, largely as a result of mistrust and suspicion between the two families that had evoked tension in the area.

We remember the number of times each gate has complained, threatened or taken the decision to boycott the peace process because of what it perceives to be injustice against it.

But the Daily Graphic sees this as perfectly normal in any peace-building process.

We also note that these chieftaincy and traditional conflicts are not recent developments, nor are they restricted to only one traditional area, as almost every traditional area in the country has encountered one chieftaincy dispute or another in the course of time.

It is because of the adverse effects of chieftaincy disputes on development and consequently the standard of living of the people that peace-loving individuals, as well as the government and friends in the international community, greeted the presentation of the Dagbon road map to peace to the President a couple of weeks ago with applause and hope.

Currently, the road map is being followed and the funeral rites for Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV are still ongoing, while we wait to witness the traditional rites for Naa Yakubu Andani.

But, as we wait for the road map to proceed on schedule, the Daily Graphic expresses worry about latest developments pertaining to the peace process.

Interestingly, the latest misunderstanding is between two groups within the Andani Gate.

While one side has described the other as imposters and doubt the success of the road map, the other describes the first group as not having locus to represent the Andani Gate in mediation and pledge its support to the full implementation of the road map.

As we have stated earlier, such disagreements are normal in any peace-building effort and so we plead with the citizenry to have patience for the aggrieved side as we make efforts to bring it back to the negotiation table so that the country and Dagbon in particular can reach the final destination of the peace process that will bring relief and development to all.

We plead with the opposing faction that if there is anything it can bequeath to the future generation, it is ensuring that it gives peace a chance at this time.

We appeal to the group in the Andani Gate that has the disagreement to avail itself of the Committee of Eminent Chiefs and other respected individuals and put across its concerns, so that they can be addressed.

We also appeal to the group that the nation, and the Dagbon Traditional Area in particular, has come a long way with the peace process and so it should play its part to complete the process.

We note that conflicts have never solved problems; it is the willingness of feuding parties to commit to a resolution that has done the trick all over the world. Lets’ give peace a chance.

Columnist: Daily Graphic