PREZ MILLS ASKS KILLERS OF YA-NA TO SURRENDER TO THE LAW OR GO INTO PERPETUAL HIDDING

The President, John Evans Atta Mills has threatened the killers of the late Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II to either go into perpetual hiding on another planet or surrender to the law, since he is prepared to exploit every available means to ensure justice for the King, even if it would cost his government to seek support from other well established international criminal investigative agencies.

According to the President, so far as he remains the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, “justice will never elude Ya-Na and his family even if we have to seek outside support”.

President Mills said this when he paid a courtesy call on the acting Regent of Gulkpegu, Abdulai Safiano at his palace in Tamale as part of his four day official visit to the Northern Region.

In a very passionate mood, President Mills assured the Chiefs and people of Dagbon especially the Andani family that find the murderers of the Ya-Na was a solemn pledge he and his government made to the people, and that nothing could change his position.

He indicated that the rest of Ghana could not have peace if peace was not restored to Dagbon.

The President however, appealed to the people to continue to exercise restraint whiles the government played its expected role.

Meanwhile, contrary to the earlier speculations that the President would be met with hostilities in Tamale as a result of early threats issued by some dissatisfied National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth, President Mills received a triumphant entry to Tamale with several hundreds of enthusiastic crowd meeting him on arrival at the Tamale Airport.

It took him and his entourage over four hours to reach the Central Business District of Tamale from the Airport which is only about 9 miles away from Tamale town, simply because his convoy could not easily penetrate or move through the chunky crown clad in NDC T-shirts amidst drumming, dancing and gymnastic motor display.

What apparently worsened the situation and brought business activities to a standstill was the other large number of onlookers who lined up on the shoulders of the road, just to wave at and catch glimpse of the President. The President had no option than to return the warmest greetings from the crown through the top window of his vehicle with his miniature flag in his right hand.

However, there was heavy security presence made up of the military, police and fire service, ostensibly due to the instability that preceded his visit some three weeks ago.

His first visit was on the Acting Regent of Gulkpegu, Abdulai Safiano whose welcome speech was almost like a “blazing fire”, as he could not hide his disappointment at the successive governments’ inability to bring justice to the late King of Dagbon.

According to the Regent, the leadership of the Royal Andani Family would never compromise on justice. Saying, “That one will never happen”.

He stated clearly that the family of Andanis was not asking for any favour from the NDC government or President Mills but was only asking for the government to apply the laws to ensure that justice prevailed in Dagbon, since Ya-Na was a revered Chief.

The Regent described as an indictment on the part of the Security Agencies, the way and manner the Ya-Na was killed and up till now not a single arrest had been made.

Blaming the past government for the atrocity, Naa Safiano asserted that the people of Dagbon had always experienced some dispeakable incidence under every UP regime.

He also appealed to the President to intervene for the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuyana to perform the final funeral rites of his father, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani.However, when the President visited the Chief of Tamale, Naa Dakpema Mohammed Alhassan Dawuni decided to talk draw the attention of the President to the development needs of the people, but did not speak about the murder of the Ya-Na.

Even though the Chief commended President Mills for his efforts in trying to restore peace in Dagbon, he did not specifically mention the Ya-Na.

Naa Dakpema who spoke through his Secretary commended the President for the Savannah Accelerated Development Authourity initiative and the rehabilitation of the Tamale Teaching Hospital. However, President Mills did not loose focus but hammered on his promise to the Chiefs and people of Dagbon to find justice for them.

Meanwhile, President Mills is expected to commission several development projects, inspect some ongoing ones and also cut sod for other projects.

He is accompanied by the Northern Regional Minister, Moses Bukari Mabengba, the Regional NDC Chairman, Awudu Sofo Azorka, the NDC General Secretary Johnson Aseidu-Nkatia, 1^st National Vice Chairman, Hudu Yahaya, Minister for Communications, Haruna Iddrisu, Deputy Minister for Energy, Inusah Fuseini and other dignitaries and District Chief Executives.