Divisional chiefs and community elders of 45 towns and villages in the Nanton traditional area have declared their support for Vo-Naa Mahamadu Baba Bawa who was selected as the new chief of Nanton by the Ya Naa, Abukari Mahama II, and endorsed by the Asantehene led mediation committee.
The chiefs have also demanded that government, who is the main implementing body of the mediation committee’s recommendations, to enforce the decision of the Ya Naa in order to preserve and consolidate the gains made in the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis by the Asantehene and his eminent counterparts.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have assembled here to show solidarity and support to our chief, Nanton -Naa Mahamadu II”, the chiefs said at press conference in Sagnarigu.
“The Nanton township is not the entire spectrum of Nanton Traditional Area. We have about 57 towns and communities and we, those assembled here, are from 45 towns and communities. Therefore, we would not allow any single selfish individuals or minority elements within Nanton Traditional Area to destroy the gains made by the Otumfou led Committee of Eminent Kings”.
The Nanton town has been plunged into chieftaincy deadlock after the Ya Naa appointed former chief of Voogu , Naa M. B. Bawa as new chief for the area. The decision has sparked agitations, mostly by members of the Abudu Royal Family, and divided the inchoate Dagbon Traditional Council.
Roadblocks were erected to prevent the Ya Naa’s nominee from entering into the community. The protesting residents are calling on the Ya Naa to reverse his decision and appoint their favourite Zosal Lana, Haruna Sulemana Tia, a former northern regional chairman of NPP, who has already occupy the town.
The situation has left many people especially farmers in the area worried as the Ya Naa has refused to budge.
The matter was taken to the Asantehene led committee where the committee reinforced the authority of the Ya Naa over the entire Dagbon and ruled that his decisions are not to be challenged and disregarded. The youth held a street protest in response, denouncing the verdict of the committee and have since refused to allow Nanton Naa MB Bawa into Nanton.
However, addressing journalists on Tuesday, April 16, the 45 Nanton sub chiefs accused the Zosal Lana of instigating the protest in the area and expressed sadness that the both District and Regional Security Council were “doing nothing to stop these lawlessness by the indispensable and untouchable former chairman of the NPP”.
“Except the youth of Nanton township, we the remaining 45 towns and communities had remained calm in the past few weeks in solid confidence in the state security apparatus to act firmly and impartially in support of good governance and the rule of law”, the traditional rulers said. “unfortunately, it appears the state is over pampering Alhaji Haruna Til with his arbitrary action”.
They also served notice that the shall continue to believe in the oath of Ya Naa to keep Dagbon together without any further drop of blood and also expressed faith in the mediation committee and the laws of Ghana to produce amicable solution to the needless stalemate.
Cognizant of the approaching new farming season, they chiefs are calling for tangible action to support the peace in the area to enable for peaceful take off of farming activities.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Eliasu Tanko
