Vice President, John Mahama has said the situation where regents in Dagbon continue to act as chiefs for a along time is worrying.
He has therefore called on all to support the ongoing process of the performances of funerals of late chiefs to pave way for the installation of substantive chiefs who would provide leadership to the people.
He was speaking at the thanks giving service which marked the end of the final funeral rite of Chief of Sagnarigu Dr. Naa Andani Andan.
Dr. Andani born some 89 years ago died in 2007 after a short illness. He is survived by wives and children some of whom leave abroad.
Dr. Andan was the first medical Doctor in the whole of the three northern regions and the first medical superintendent of the Ghana Police Hospital in Accra.
His funeral was attended by almost all the important chiefs in Dagbon amidst the firing of musketry and drumming and dancing.
Chiefs rode horses and displayed their dancing prowess along with their subjects to pay their last respect to the late chief whose position as chief of Sagnarigu was an envy to many.
John Mahama said it was important that Dagbon moved forward with substantive chiefs and appealed to all to put hands on deck to ensure a successful Dagbon.
The performance of the funerals of the chiefs was greeted with anger by a section of Dagbon and even though the Vice President did not make direct reference to that, it was widely believed that his appeal was going to those people who publicly threatened to disrupt the performance of the funerals of the chiefs.
Mr Mahama who eulogized the late chief concluded that he was not just a traditional ruler but a great asset to his people and country.
He said it was unfortunate that he died before government could honour its promise of giving Sagnarigu a district.
The legislative instrument to that effect, the VEEP said, was currently before parliament.
Vice President Mahama stressed the need for peace during this year’s elections and said the government understands that this year’s elections would be the most peaceful one.
He was not happy about certain pronouncements on radio and charged those who go on radio to be civil in their utterances.
Northern regional Minister Moses Mabingba cautioned the people that demonstrations would not solve their problems and added that sometimes demonstrations would even let government fail to listen to their concerns.
The Vice President was accompanied by minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Mumuni, Communications Minister Iddrisu Haruna and MP for Tamale North Abukari Sumani amongst other dignitaries.
Dr. Chief Andani Andan attended his elementary education at Gambaga and Zuarungo and ended his education abroad as a qualified medical doctor and surgeon.
He worked at the Tema government hospital, Obuasi Golds Mines hospital and the police hospital.
Dr. Andan also worked at the University of science and Technology (UST) medical school now KNUST medical school and rose to become the head of the governing board of the university.
He later opened his private clinic at Bonsu in Kumasi where he continued to practice as a surgeon until his death on 4th July 2007.
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