The learned Chief of Tamale therefore appealed strongly to all traditional rulers in the region, especially in Dagbon, to wage an inexorable war against violence, in order to curtail the disparagement.
Naa Dakpema, who made the remarks at his royal palace during a courtesy call on him by the 2009 Ghana’s Most Beautiful, Mariam Abdul Rauf Nasara, to commence “Beacon of Peace” project for the three northern regions, bemoaned that violent conflicts continued to embarrass the chieftaincy institution, and thus slammed the residents whose ill actions contribute to the phenomenon, to bow their heads in shame.
“I don’t think there will ever be a day when southerners would bring their chieftaincy or land problems to northern chiefs to solve, so I don’t understand why we northerners or Dagombas will fight, and cannot sit together to resolve our own differences. It is a shame for all of us.”
The Chief however said even though the southern chiefs, who had been mandated to arbitrate in the chieftaincy and land disputes of the north, had proven to be knowledgeable and effective at all times, there would still be some limitations in their knowledge about the true culture, customs, inheritance and traditions of the north.
This, he said, had become a challenge to the traditional rulers in the north, to learn to tolerate those they perceive as their opponents, and resolve to settle their own problems through dialogues to avoid escalations.
Naa Dakpema, who has also launched a Peace Fund for the people of Tamale, urged the people to eschew the violence that had for decades now derailed the developmental agenda of the region.
He called on the people to also admit and apologise for any wrongs that they would commit, or had committed against their neighbours, to ensure unity and peaceful co-existence.
The Chief reminded the people that posterity would not spare them, if they continue to destroy the very fibers that hold the north and its people together and therefore asked them to redirect their energies towards productive ventures aimed at transforming the area.
Naa Dakpema commended Miss Nasara for emerging the winner in the competition, and pledged his full support to her campaign for peace.
On the other hand, the 21 year old Ghana’s Most Beautiful, Miss Mariam Abdul-Rauf Nasara, expressed her readiness to work with the people of the north to imbue the lost spirit of oneness and togetherness that existed in the past.
According to her, it was a duty for her, as a northern and a daughter of Dagbon, to work assiduously to merit the trust the entire people of Ghana had reposed in her as a Peace Ambassador, and to achieve the needed results.
Currently, the Beauty Queen is on a tour of the three Northern Regions to familiarise herself with the people, identify their problems, and find ways of addressing them.
She was expected to pay courtesy calls on some top traditional rulers, religious leaders, institutional heads, and also meet with the feuding factions in some of the conflict prone areas, especially Gushiegu, Tamale, Yendi and Bawku, to preach peace as promised during the Ghana’s Most Beautiful competition.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Touch House Entertainment, Mr. Mohammed Hafiz, who doubles as Giema-Naa in Tamale, and sponsor of Miss Nasara, also pledged his continued support to ensure that she undertook her project successfully.
He appealed to the media to desist from always blowing stories from the north out of proportion, and try as much as possible to reduce panic, and paint the true picture of the area, so as to attract investors to the north.
Source:The Chronicle
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