The Minister for National Security, Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah, has said the peace in the Dagbon traditional area has become a shining example worth emulating and that the government remains proud to have found lasting peace in the area with the support of all and sundry.
“We continue to say that one thing we have done and which as a government we are very proud of is the peace we have found in Dagbon, thanks to the people of Dagbon who agreed that all differences will be settled, we’ve ever been very proud of your achievement.
“Indeed, when we go out to speak when there are ethnic conflicts in other places, we mention you and we mention Dagombas and ask them to learn from what you have done. We tell them that war, fighting with your hands and legs will never solve the problem, the problem can only be solved if we sit down and talk, the problem can only be solved if we allow our leaders to do the talking” he stressed.
Mr. Kan Dapaah made these remarks when he led a government delegation to the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi together with the Defense Minister, Dominic Nitiwul and some Members of Parliament from the northern region in the wake threats of violence among the youth of Dagbon and the Konkomba community.
The National Security Minister urged the youth to restrain from making inflammatory statements and allow the Chiefs and elders to lead the discussion in finding amicable resolution to impasse.
“This is not to say when there is a major issue affecting the community everybody should keep quiet, we’re saying that you can talk but if you have an advice channel through the proper sources, let it go to the leaders and let them solve the matter for us” he emphasized.
According to him, the Dagbon State has a lot to contribute to the socioeconomic development and transformation of the country, adding most of our recent achievement have come from people from the area and pointed out the significant impact of MPs of the region are making in Parliament.
“…To me, they make the Dagbon State great and it is a big credit to the good Parliamentarians you have brought, it’s a major contribution to the development of Ghana” he stated.
The Defense Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, for his part said both Konkombas and Dagombas are not interested in fighting each other over anything.
In his view, the only people who are trying to cause problem are faceless people on social media who are igniting the conflict.
“And I said that people are now believing that there is conflict, so if we don’t rush and come to speak to Ndan Yaa Naa, we may be sitting down and before we know there’s a conflict, so it is the reason I brought the MPs to organize this meeting” he added.
Dominic Nitiwul said the issue must be nip in the bud once and for all and called on the public to assist the state security information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the Yaa Naa has said economic activities in the area are now being because people are no longer going about their daily activities out of fear for a possible attack.
“These rumors that are being peddled through social media have intensified and become ugly as the perpetrators add their spin to them. This has made it difficult for the people in the region to go about their normal duties at home and in the farms” he said.
He added the rumors have gotten students fleeing from school and workers leaving their places of work and, “you know what will become of their future. You guess is as good as mine.”
“Not the Dagombas nor the Konkombas are happy about what is happening. Nobody needs a war. A war in which there would be no winners. We will all be the losers” he stated.
