Dagbon state of emergency and curfew relaxed

Ghanaian President John Kufuor has said the government will not renew a two-year state of emergency and curfew in four districts of the strife-torn northern Ghanaian Dagbon traditional area.

Ghana's Minister of the Interior, Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, said the four districts included Tolon-Kumbungu, Savelugu-Nanton, Gushegu-Karaga and Zabzugu-Tatale where a state of emergency and the curfew were imposed in March 2002.

The imposition of the emergency measures followed a chieftaincy dispute between two ruling families that led to the killing of the Dagbon King, Ya Na Yakubu Andani II and 29 other people on 27 March.

Owusu-Agyeman however said upon recommendations of security agencies, Kufuor had maintained the state of emergency in the northern regional capital, Tamale, and the Yendi district, which was the scene of the clashes that led to the Dagbon King's death. The King's palace was razed during the clashes while he was beheaded.

Tamale and Yendi will continue to be covered by a midnight to dawn curfew, but Interior Ministry officials said security agencies would monitor the situation in the two towns and announce any changes once security improved.

The two wrangling families belong to two clans that have disagreed over the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis for nearly 40 years, namely the Andani and Abudu clans.