US embassy warns citizens to stay away from the Northern Region

The United States of America (USA) has issued a security alert warning its citizens in Ghana to avoid traveling to Tamale in the Northern Region from 14 December 2018 as the Abudu and Andani royal gates hold separate funerals for their chiefs.

The Abudu royal family will from Friday, 14 – 28 December 2018 hold funeral activities in honour of the late Ya Na Mahamadu Abdulai IV.

The funeral of the late Ya Na Abdulai Yakubu Andani II of the Andani royal gate will also be held afterwards from 4 – 18 January 2019.

Police officers and soldiers have been deployed to Tamale to jointly patrol the area and crush any troublemakers who may want to frustrate the peace process.

The American Embassy in Ghana, in a communiqué to its citizens in the country, said its ability to provide emergency services in the Northern Region is “extremely limited” and, therefore, advised Americans against travelling to the north during the period of the funerals.

The communiqué said: “Beginning from December 14, 2018, groups in Tamale, Yendi, and surrounding villages will hold funerals for their respective former chieftains. Extreme violence is likely and there are inadequate medical resources in the region.

“All but mission-essential travel by U.S. Embassy personnel to these regions is not advisable until the issue is resolved. Our ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these areas is extremely limited.”

The Embassy said American citizens are to take the following actions:

– Avoid travel to or through the Northern Region, especially the surrounding areas from Tamale and Yendi;

– Keep a low profile;

– Avoid crowds and demonstrations;

– Monitor local media for updates;

– Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance;

– Remain aware of your surroundings; and

– Review your personal security plans.

Background

The two royal gates of Dagbon have been engaged in chieftaincy conflicts that boiled over on 27 March 2002 and resulted in the assassination of Ya Na Yakubu Andani and the killing of 30 others.

The government of then-president John Agyekum Kufuor declared a state of emergency and imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the Dagbon Traditional Area.

The Kufuor government set up the Justice Wuako Commission to investigate the crisis and it has since submitted its report.

The government also appointed the Committee of Eminent Chiefs led by the Asantehene to find a traditional solution to the impasse.

On 21 November 2018, the eminent chiefs made up of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Boresa Sulemana Jakpa I and Nayiri, Naa Bohogu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga presented the progress report to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the presence of chiefs from both the Andani and Abudu gates at the Jubilee House.

The committee recommended that the Abudu royal family from Friday, 14 December to 28 December 2018 hold funeral activities in honour of the late Ya Na Mahamadu Abdulai IV while the funeral of the late Ya Na Abdulai Yakubu Andani II of the Andani royal gate will be held afterwards from 4 January 2019 to 18 January 2019.

A new Ya Na for Dagbon is expected to be enskinned after the royal funerals to bring lasting peace to the area.