The Head of the Andani Royal Family Yoo Naa Abukari VI, the Kampakuya-Naa Abdudulia, and the entire Traditional State of Dagbon have through a letter signed by the Chairman of the Funeral Planning Committee and Vo-Na, Mahamudu Bawa, expressed their readiness and willingness to commence the Funeral of the late YaNa Yakubu Andani II from Friday, 4th of January to Thursday the 17th of January 2019.

The Andani Royal Family registered their commitment to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, led roadmap to peace in the Dagbon Traditional area when they paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, at the Jubilee House, Thursday, 27th December 2018.

Addressing the President, during the call, Chairman of the Funeral Planning Committee and Vo-Na, Mahamudu Bawa, said in light of the fact that the final funeral rites of the late Ya-Na Mahamudu, “commenced today the 2018, the Andani Royal Family is ready and willing to commence the funeral rites of Ya-Na Yakubu II on 4th January, 2019 and complete it on 18th January 2019”.

The submission by the Andani Royal Family to the President today demonstrates a sharp departure from what seemed to be the emergance of two separate groups from the Andani family after the road map to peace in Dagbon by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II led committee, was submitted to the President. The Delegation in their submission requested the President to use all of his powers to continue to look into issues in Dagbon and to unravel the mystery behind the murder of the late Ya-NaYakubu II.

*President Akufo Addo*

President Akufo Addo in response to the statement by the leader of the delegation described the decision of the Andani Royal Family as a Christmas present to the whole of the Country. He assured them that his administration will not relent in its quest to unravel the mystery surrounding the tragedy of the murder of the late Ya-Na Yakubu II. The President indicated that he is very much looking forward to attending the ceremony that will lead to the enskinment of a new Ya-Na for the Dagbon Traditional Area.

“You can have that assurance that the mere fact that these processes at finding closure the course of the next two weeks does not therefore mean that everything else has been dropped. It cannot be, so long as there has not been closure on that, it cannot be” the President said.

“My hope was that the next time I come to Yendi, would be that I will come and greet the new Ya-Na after the funerals. That has been my hope” the President added.

I am Abudani

President Akufo Addo in his submission said even though he is not an Abudu nor Andani, he will be assuming the title of “Abudani” as a sign to prove that he belongs to both sides as President of the Republic.

“I have said before that I am not an “Andani” nor an “Abudu”, but I have decided that I am an “Abudani”. That is what I am, an Abudani” the President said.