Hands Off Dagbon — Cardinal Turkson
Dec 04, 2005
The Cardinal,Peter Appiah Turkson,has cautioned political leadership in the country against interfering in traditional matters particularly the Dagbon chietaincy problem.
(graphicghana.info, 11/29/2005) He observed that traditional processes must be used to solve the chieftaincy crisis but not to frustrate efforts at ensuring lasting peace in the area.
Cardinal Turkson gave the warning in Tamale during a courtesy call on the Deputy Regional Minister,Mr Mohammed Amin Anta at the weekend.
The Cardinal’s visit was part of his three-day tour of the Tamale Archdiocese of the Catholic Church. He held prayer sessions and church services at the OLA Cathedral and inaugurated a new ¢331-million chapel sited near the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Cardinal Turkson called on all stakeholders,including the security agencies,religious leaders,Imams and traditional rulers to find a way of ensuring peace in Dagbon.
He noted that it was not right for people to always associate the north with conflicts and as if the area had nothing good to show.
The Cardinal expressed optimism that the region was blessed with much potentials and made the observation that the problems in the area appeared to have overshadowed the good things in the north.
“But no matter what,God’s purpose for the north will reign; we are prepared to pray for peace in the region and we will hold a lot of prayer sessions because there is nothing difficult for God to solve”,he observed.
The Cardinal noted that some people in the region were making frantic efforts to address the chieftaincy problem but expressed regret that those efforts were being stifled and “thrown out of gear by interference for political leadership”.
Cardinal Turkson said his elevation to the position of cardinal was a victory for all Ghanaians adding that the Catholic Church was an institution that enjoyed rendering service to mankind.
Mr Anta on his part appealed to the church to support efforts at promoting peace in Dagbon.He commended the church in the region for co-existing peacefully with the Muslim community.
According to the deputy minister,the burial of the late Dagbon chief,Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II,was critical to promoting peace in the area.
He,however,acknowledged the immense contribution of the civil society and other public- spirited individuals and organisations to help resolve the crisis.
Mr Anta noted that his elevation to the position of cardinal was“a pride to the whole country which will further boost the image of Ghana on the international scene.”
The Archbishop of Tamale,the Most Rev Gregory Kpiebaya, stated that the church would continue to maintain high sense of discipline in the Catholic institutions to improve on educational standards.
Hands Off Dagbon — Cardinal Turkson