A conflict resolution expert has said the prolonged nature of mediation talks targeted at resolving the Dagbon Chieftaincy crises should not be misconstrued as a failure to bring peace. For nearly five years a committee of eminent Chiefs led by the Asantehene has been holding talks with the feuding factions in the in an attempt to get them to resolve their differences amicably following the murder of the overlord of Dagbon Ya-Na Yakubu Andani. The proposed road map to peace crafted by the team has however done little to satisfy the various factions. Last week, the Abudu royal family withdrew from the peace talks citing mistrust in the Asantehene. Many observers say the Committee of eminent Chiefs has failed. But the Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peace Building Emmanuel Bombande, disagreed. He said the search for peace was overly simplified. Mr Bombande said the Dagbon Chieftaincy conflict had “a life of almost a century and we cannot expect that in five years, we can just simply bring back peace when the situation escalated to a point in which the king of the kingdom himself was slain.” He said the committee of the eminent chiefs should rather be commended for what has been achieved so far – the peaceful burial of the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani. Source: Joy News/Ghana