Security intensified in Yendi
More than 200 police personnel and
soldiers have been despatched to Yendi to avert any possible infractions
of the law, as preparations are underway to celebrate this year’s Damba
Festival.
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The security personnel were mobilised from the Northern and other regions to intensify patrol in the Yendi municipality which is the seat of the Dagbon Traditional Area.
According to the Northern Regional Police Crime Officer, Mr Mahama Arhin, the situation in the area was now calm following the heavy security presence.
He indicated that a crowd that had gathered at the Bolin-Lana’s Palace on Sunday evening to watch preparations for the festival was also dispersed by security personnel.
He conceded that although the security agencies fired warning shots as part of their operations, “there had also not been any reported case of injuries during the course of our operation at the palace.”
“There had also not been any arrest,” Mr Arhin said.
The acting Chairman of the Northern Regional Security Committee (REGSEC), Mr Moses Mabengba, explained that since the current Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya Naa Abdulai Andani was installed in 2006, the chief and his subjects had always celebrated the Damba Festival at the Gbewah Palace.
The minister, who was speaking in an interview in Tamale, therefore, wondered “what has changed this time that the Abudus are insisting that they would also observe the occasion at a different palace rather than the Gbewah Palace”
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Mr Mabenga said, “if we allow this action by the Abudus to celebrate the festival, there would be a break of law and order since the Damba is only celebrated at the Gbewah Palace by the Kampakuya Naa.”
He, therefore, advised the people to respect and comply with the existing order because ,“we would not tolerate any acts of impunity and anybody who contravenes the law would be dealt with accordingly.”
This year’s Damba Festival falls on Wednesday, January 30. However, traditional and customary preparations towards the celebration of the festival had generated some high levels of tension in the municipality.
This followed the decision by the two rival gates in the Dagbon chieftaincy divide to observe the ceremony at their respective palaces at Yendi.
The Damba Festival is a convenient merger between the Islamic religion and tradition that is celebrated by majority of Muslims in the north and largely by Dagombas.
The festival is said to mark the birth and subsequent out-dooring of Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W.), founder of Islam. The festival is also used to offer sacrifices to show appreciation to Allah and also chart a new course for the coming years.
Story by Zakaria Alhassan