The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs has moved to calm tensions in Dagbon in the Northern Region, after threats of war by the two feuding royal gates, Andanis and Abudus.

The National House of chiefs met in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region over the threats by the two to sidestep peace agreements.

The Abudu Royals’ two-week ultimatum to government to renovate the Old Gbewaa palace for the funeral of the late Yaa Naa Mahamadu Abdulai (the 4th) expires today.

The Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Dr Henry Seidu Daanaa, indicates it is important to prevent an escalation of the crisis.

He told Accra-based Citi FM, “one thing we will not want as a government is to see the commission of violence of the scale or of anything that will threaten, not at all.”

Meanwhile, Ranking Member for Defence and Interior Committee, Maj Rtd Derrick Oduro, says the Asantehene led Committee of Eminent Chiefs on the Dagbon crisis must be reconstituted. 

According to him the committee has failed to deliver on its mandate to resolve the impasse.

Click to listen to him.

Click audio file to listen to Maj Rtd Derrick Oduro.

The two families have been involved in a chieftaincy feud in Dagbon in the region for years.

The King of Dagombas and the overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II was killed on March 27, 2002 when clashes broke out between the two feuding Andanis and the Abudus.

Early in 2015, the Regent of Dagbon, the Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu Andani renewed calls for justice to prevail in the murder of the late overlord of Dagbon following his displeasure with the delay in apprehending killers of the Yaa-Naa.

The children of the late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II similarly demonstrated in Tamale and petitioned government to find their late father’s killers.