For over 12 years the people of Dagbon in the Northern  Region have been held in bondage over a chieftaincy dispute between two families- Abudus and Andanis.

In less than two hours that bondage is about to give way to freedom, progress, peace and development with the performance of the first of two funerals for the late Overlords of Dagbon- Mahamudu Abdulai and Yakubu Andani.

The two families have pledged to promote peace as the funeral of the late Mahamadu Abdulai begins in earnest in the Gbewaa Palace.

Joy News’ Tamale correspondent Martina Bugri reported the Northern Region Minister Salifu Saeed early on in the day handed over the keys of the newly renovated Gbewaa Palace to the kinsmen of the Abudu family only when they had signed an undertaking.

I…………………………………. acting as head of family of the Abudu Gate of the Dagbon Traditional Area and having temporarily taken vacant possession of the reconstructed Gbewaa Palace and subsequently occupied same together with other Royals of the Abudu Gate of Dagbon Traditional Area for the purpose of performing the final funeral rites of the late Ya Na Mahamadu Abdulai IV do hereby undertake for and on behalf of the Abudu gate to

1. Strictly abide by all security measures put in place by the government of the Republic of Ghana to ensure peaceful performance of the final funeral rites of the late Ya- Na Mahamadu Abdulai IV
2. Not to engage in any act which shall or is likely to lead to breaches of the late Ya Na Mahamudu  Abdulai IV….” The undertaking read in part.

According to Martina Bugri, the Abudu elders had to take about an hour to peruse the content of the undertaking but eventually signed it.

After signing the undertaking, the chief of Diyali, one of the elders of the Abudu family Naa Abukari Abdulai warned the youth in the area not to carry weapons not prescribed or allowed for the performance of the funeral.

He warned he would not intervene in the likely event any of the Abudu youth is arrested carrying an unprescribed weapon for the occasion.

According to Bugri, the community is basking in great jubilation in anticipation of a great funeral ceremony.

After the funeral of Mahamadu Abdulai, the Andanis will takeover the Gbewaa Palace to organize the funeral of the late Ya Na Yakubu Andani.

 He died in March 2002 in a conflict with the Abudus which lasted for three days.

For over a decade three eminent chiefs led by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II were tasked to mediate between the two families and to restore lasting peace.

After ten years, the chiefs came up with a roadmap part of which will have the two families perform the two funerals of their late overlords beginning with the Abudus followed by the Andanis.

After the two funerals, the search for a new Ya Na will begin.