There is a heavy security presence in Yendi as the celebration of the Damba festival continues today. The presence of the security personnel is to forestall any disturbances following a directive to restrict this year’s celebration to the Gbewa Palace which houses the regent of Yendi. The Abudus have cried foul over the decision saying it is unjustified. The Regional Minister, Moses Bukari Mabengba, however says it is the best way to ensure that peace prevails throughout the celebration. “Allowing two different groups to celebrate Damba in volatile Yendi at the same time is a recipe for confusion and so we will not allow that to happen. If in future we see that there is no threat to peace, and it should be done differently, so be it,” he said. Mr Mabenga added that he is not aware that an 80-man military squad has surrounded the Boling-Lana’s palace to which the Abudus belong as suggested by some media reports. “I will not know details of the deployment; I know that we have got soldiers around there to ensure that we celebrate the Damba festival at the Gbwewa palace,” he said, adding that the entire Yendi municipality has been declared a security zone and that the government would not interfere in the day-to-day operations of security there. An emergency meeting to enforce a directive, barring the Abudu gate in Dagbon from celebrating the Damba festival ended inconclusively. General Secretary for the Abudu gate, Alhassan Iddrisu, said the ban is an infringement on their rights. “It is our right to celebrate. We don’t even need to notify anybody and they (soldiers) have threatened to use force,” he said. According to him, the new generation of Abudus could miss out on the value of the festival if the people are stopped from celebrating it. Yendi Municipal Chief Executive, Walvis Hudu is worried about the impasse. He, however, tells Joy News he will do everything possible to get the Abudu’s to rescind their decision. “I am worried in principle that the peace will be jeopardised. However, I am very optimistic that they will see reason and come back to negotiations and discussions to forge a way forward. I’ll still advise that they should not celebrate. I mean they should let us be very firm about this,” he said. Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana