Last Monday, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, and a high-level delegation of his party made a historic trip to Yendi, the cultural capital of Dagbon.
The trip was as historical as it was significant because his party has not embarked on such a trip to the Gbewa Palace since the unfortunate incident which occurred in Yendi in 2002 that frosted the relationship between it and the Andani Gate.
A thawed relationship between one of the two major political parties and one of the two Gates in the Dagbon chieftaincy stalemate is a good thing: it heralds a restoration of peace.
Bad and selfish politicians have exploited the Dagbon seemingly intractable incident for far too long. Their claim of knowledge of those behind it and the incessant fanning of the embers of hatred between members of the two gates on one hand and the Andanis and the NPP on the other, has sustained the unnecessary and extended enmity.
The boastful knowledge dangled by the NDC leader at the time about the names behind the incident has come to nothing: so many years since then the propaganda-driven cacophony has faded, virtually confined to the dusty annals of chieftaincy strife.
No singular effort on the part of any politician from both sides of the political divide has sought to bring a much-needed thawing of a frosty relationship between the Abudus and Andanis offspring of same ancestry. The reason such concerted and sincere effort at resorting normalcy in relations is lacking is because the schism inures to the favour of some selfish politicians.
It was instructive that Nana Akufo-Addo turned his back on anything that would stoke the fire which for him should give way for progress.
A chieftaincy dispute, which has a political undertone to fuel it, can best be addressed when the leadership of the main political parties see beyond their parochial interests and reach out, if you like, simultaneously to the two sides.
Nana Akufo-Addo did just that when he paid a courtesy call on the Kampakayua Na – the regent of Dagbon and face of the Andani Gate and the Bolinlana, representing the Abudu Gate.
Even before the D-Day, the announcement having been made about the trip many opted for a wait- and-see attitude, not knowing what the outcome would be. Nana went and recorded a resounding reception from both sides and above all.
He presented to the country, especially those at the helm, something beyond what has been tried to no avail.
Reaching out to both sides with a clean heart as Nana Addo and some of his party people did is the way forward.
We salute the diplomacy and open-mindedness of both the Kampakuya Na and the Bolinlana. Their gestures suggest more than ever before their appetite for peace.
The days of politicians using such flashpoints to advance their parochial agenda should be over now.
The people of Dagbon have had enough of the mendacious tales by bad politicians without providing proofs about their sweeping allegations.
We encourage the people of Dagbon to ride upon this new dawn to foster a critical rapprochement in what has stubbornly been a frozen relationship between cousins.