Bimbilla Is First In Series;Yendi And Bawku Will Follow Soon

Bimbilla is first in series;Yendi and Bawku will follow soon
The Director of Center for Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies (CECOTAPS), Rev . Dr . Clement Aapegnua has stated that Yendi and Bawku will soon follow depending on how the recent chieftancy conflict in Bimbilla is handled.
He said this whilst contributing his expert point of view on the incident on the official WhatsApp group of DAMONGO YOUTH PARLIAMENT (DYP).
" Bimbilla is the first of the series. Depending on how Bimbilla is handled Yendi and Bawku will soon follow. Here is why. The perceived political divisions are as follows: the current Bimbilla reagent is NDC or has NDC leanings. The chief who's body is still in the mortuary has his supporters leaning towards NPP. Now that NPP is in power, the followers of the dead chief are going to be audacious. The current reagent of Dagbon and the Andani family is perceived to be NDC. This is the time for the Abudus to reopen the issue of celebrating the funeral of Naa Abdulai. Conflict right there. In Bawku, Mamprussis, traditionally NPP, will soon ask to celebrate the chief's funeral and/or to celebrate Damba. Kussasis will insist there is one paramount chief of Bawku, the Bawku Naaba"-Averred the Rev . Father who doubles as a peace expert.
He further revealed that Bimbilla and Yendi have a structural problem. And that for these people, Chieftancy is a matter of life and death because of the numerous benefits.
" Bimbilla and Yendi have a structural problem. A reagent is for all intent and purpose the paramount chief. He has all the powers and privileges of the chief. He enskins, sells land, settles disputes and receives official delegations. He is the traditional leader. Why should any body in such a position want to vacate the seat? The so called traditional people know that in Dagbon and Nanum, you cannot succeed your father as chief if you do not celebrate his funeral. For a people for whom chieftaincy is a matter of live and death, it us suicidal to prevent such a funeral celebration".He reiterated.
He further noted that the people involved in this conflict will surely pull government in, and that government as we have it today must be interested in such cases because it will need votes every four years from these same people.
According to him Parliamentary candidates win or lose seats depending on how such cases go. And that the current minister of defence and member of parliament for the area hon.Dominic Nitiwul was lucky he is a Kokomba.Depending on how he intervene in this case, he could either be in trouble, create a new conflict or he could find a lasting solution to the problem.
He however expressed worry in the fact that in all these traditional conflicts, innocent lives are lost and life and business is disrupted.
He reiterated the fact that the security of every person in Ghana is the business of Government and it is a human right! Anything that interferes with it is government's business and no one should say government should take its hands off.
Meanwhile, reports have it that ten people have so far been killed and several others injured through fire exchanges in the chieftancy crisis in the two ruling houses in Bimbilla. A fresh curfew has been imposed on the area.

Story by:ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM(AB)
(A freelance Journalist)
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