[ 2011-04-09 ]

Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

Mills requests Asantehene to resume Abudu-Andani talks
Vice President John Mahama has delivered a message
from President Mills to the Asante King, appealing
to the traditional ruler to resume efforts towards
resolving the feud between rival Abudu and Andani
royal Gates by his three-member Committee of
Eminent Chiefs.

The Vice President called on Otumfuo Osei Tutu at
his palace at Manhyia on Saturday April 9. The
Otumfuo-chaired Committee suspended its work
momentarily due to the withdrawal of Abudus from
the talks.

Some Abudus had vowed not to cooperate with the
committee because according to them, they had lost
faith in the Asantehene, and preferred the
judiciary to settle the protracted issue.

The call on the Asantehene comes after an Accra
Fast Track High Court discharged and acquitted
some 15 Abudus who were standing trial for the
alleged murder of the Late Dagbon Overlord, Ya-Naa
Yakubu Andani II.

Government has already begun a process to reverse
that ruling.

The Vice President was accompanied by the National
Security Advisor General Nunoo Mensah and Interior
Minister Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor.

Mr. Mahama conveyed the President’s apologies to
the Asantehene for his inability to stop at his
Palace during his trip to the Brong Ahafo region
last week.

Mr. Mahama informed the Asante King that President
Mills was scheduled to be in the Ashanti region
next week to discuss further issues on the
Abudu-Andani feud with him.

“He says I should thank you and commend you for
the very good work you have been doing with
regards to the Dagbon chieftaincy matter and to
encourage you to continue and bring that work to
conclusion. He says you have done very well so far
and he is encouraged with the progress that was
made and that it requires a little more effort to
be able to resolve the outstanding issues".

"So we are here to discuss how Government can
collaborate with you and your brothers’ the
Na-Yiri and the Yagbonwura, to be able to bring
the negotiations between the two brother families
of Dagbon together. Considering your long-standing
relationship with Dagbon, the Na-Yiri and Gonja,
we know that you have the kind of influence that
can bring this matter to an amicable solution. So
the President says I should encourage you to go to
the last mile to resolve the matter”.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu later held a closed-door meeting
with the Vice President and his entourage where
they shared further details on the assignment.

The Vice President later told journalists that
elders of both factions had indicated their
readiness for the Committee of Eminent Chiefs
hence the Government’s call on the chiefs to
resume the negotiations.

Mr. Mahama explained that those who announced the
withdrawal of Abudus from the committee’s work
were not speaking on behalf of the entire Abudu
Royal Gate, which has since apologized to the
eminent chiefs.

The Vice President said the ruling of the High
Court will not be an impediment to the mediation
talks.

According to him, although Government strongly
believes that the suitable way to tackle
chieftaincy disputes is through the traditional
authorities, it has a duty to bring to justice the
killers of the late King since that is considered
a criminal act.

Source - Citifmonline

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