THE Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has denied reports carried by a section of the media, including Accra-based FM stations, that suggested that there were clashes and gunshots at a sod-cutting ceremony attended by the Vice-President in Buipe at the weekend.
Addressing a press conference in Tamale to react to the reports, the Regional Minister and Chairman of the REGSEC, Mr Stephen Nayina, stressed that “the REGSEC would like to set the record straight that what happened was a protest from the Buipewura against the elder of the Lebu Gate from presenting himself at the durbar as a chief”.
He explained that the protest led to a brief misunderstanding between the chiefs and elders of the Lepo Gate.
According to him, the timely intervention of the Regional Police Commander and some Gonja leaders averted any clash and the matter was amicably resolved, sanity prevailed and the function took off smoothly.
Mr Nayina intimated that the purported news item carried by the Accra-based FM stations was, therefore, not only unfounded but also misleading.
He said it was a calculated attempt to erode the gains made so far in maintaining peace in the traditional area and also negate the good essence of the event, which in the long run would impact positively on the good people of the three northern regions.
“The Regional Co-ordinating Council will like to draw your attention that the region is deprived and any negative reportage will further worsen our plight”, he pointed out.
He indicated that the REGSEC, and for that matter the RCC, expected media practitioners to highlight more on development issues since the region had huge potentials that could easily be marketed by positive reportage.
“The RCC is, therefore, appealing to editors of various media houses in the region and the nation’s capital to cross-check their facts from their local correspondents before publishing their news items”, he entreated.
In a related development, members of the Lebupe Gate have condemned the disturbances that took place during the visit of the Vice President and his entourage.
A spokesperson for the Gate, Mr Emmanuel Asase, stated “we wish to condemn in no uncertain terms the kind of primitive behaviour exhibited in the presence of our august visitors from the Presidency and development partners who were in Buipe in the interest of our people”.
The spokesperson explained that on the eve of the event, “we members of the Lebupe Gate made a statement to the media that information reaching our leader indicated that the Silimawura was inviting people to come for the sodcutting ceremony”.
Following that report in the media, the spokesperson stated that the District Chief Executive, Mr Sualisu Beawurebi, visited the Lebupe family and told them that they could attend the programme.
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