Final Funeral Rites Of Two Dagbon Kings To Be Performed In November

Northern Regional Minister

Tentatively, government is considering the ending of November 2015 as the date set to perform the final funeral rites of two kings of the Dagbon Kingdom, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, Northern Regional Minister has announced.

At a meeting of the Northern Region House of Chiefs in Tamale, Alhaji Limuna disclosed that, government was also ready to foot every bill associated with the planning and organisation of the funerals of the two prominent kings; Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II (Andani Gate) and Naa Mahamadu Abdulai (Abudu Gate).

“You should not worry about where invited guest will sleep.....what they will eat or drink. Government has decided to take over all expenses and costs of the two funerals. That is what government is interested in....ensuring that the funerals are performed in order for lasting peace to prevail. As for the installation of a new Ya-Na, that will be decided by the traditional people. Government has no hand in any installation or who to become the next Ya-Na”, he stressed. 

He also decried the increasing bloody conflicts in many parts of the region and urged the chiefs and various ethnic groups in the region to show deep concern about renewing conflicts. “It is only the people of the various communities who can solve the problems we are faced with”, he noted.

The Northern Region, according to Alhaji Limuna, used to be one of the most peaceful regions in the country but unfortunately, it could not claim any dignified position at the national level due to the numerous conflicts it was currently faced with.

Currently, there are five curfews in the whole of Ghana. Out of these five curfews, four are in the Northern Region alone. They are Gushiegu, Nankpanduri, Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo and Bimbilla. The fifth one is in Alavanyo in the Volta Region.

Nayiri Na Bohagu Sheriga

Alhaji Limuna also appealed to members of the House to show concern in a seemingly unending culture that was taking away the dignity and pride of many young girls. “...as custodians of our culture and tradition, I wish to draw your attention to one of the cultural practices which is inimical to the total development of our people; that is force or child marriage”, he stated.

“The state places a lot of pride on girl-child education to enhance gender equality and it is the duty of chiefs and government to ensure that the girl-child is not forced into marriage to the detriment of her education”, he maintained.

President of the Northern Region House of Chiefs and Overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom Na Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, also called on all members of the House to support the police to nib in the bud, increasing menace of money rituals popularly known as sakawa, in the Tamale Metropolis.

Whilst encouraging the police and other security agencies to be fair and firm in dealing with crimes similar to the Bimbilla situation, Na Sheriga condemned in no uncertain terms, the attitude of people resorting to violence anytime they had disagreements.

About 12 lives were lost following a bloody clash in Bimblla recently. Eight (8) persons including the Registrar of the Northern Region House of Chiefs were arrested and charged by the police. But the President of the House said his officer was a victim of circumstance and should be granted bail.

Meanwhile, Members of the Northern Regional Peace Council led by their Chairman Most Reverend Philip Naameh, urged citizens to make use of dialogue and all the dispute resolution mechanisms offered by the state to seek redress for any dispute.

Most Rev. Naameh who is also the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Tamale Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church, said the region had more than 20 active conflicts. “Though some of these conflicts are political in nature, a significant majority of them relate to issues of land and resources, ethnicity and chieftaincy”, he pointed out.