By Damien Avevor & Vincent Mensah
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The Catholic Bishop of Yendi, Most Rev. Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai, SVD, said that “retributive” justice, or justice based on revenge, is hindering the peace process in Dagbon which began in 2002.
He deplored this form of justice which, he said, was common among the people.
He called for “restorative” justice or justice based on reconciliation and forgiveness. This form of justice Bishop Boi-Nai told The Standard in an interview in Accra, was necessary in order to consolidate the peace process in the area.
He asked the people of Dagbon to remove all forms of obstacles to peace, especially hatred and violence.
Bishop Boi-Nai, who is a Mediator in the Dagbon crisis, urged the people of Dagbon, especially the youth, to bring a halt to a culture that casts insinuations, utters provocative statements, and uses insulting language and gestures against their opponents.
He said the burial of Ya Naa Yakubu Andani II in 2006, should have brought about an atmosphere for promoting peace and stability. Instead, “peace was rather being defeated by acts of revenge.”
According to him, the request by the Abudus to perform the funeral of Ya Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV was taking too long. He called upon the Eminent Chiefs and the Council of Elders of Dagbon to “quickly resolve the issues in the name of peace.”
The Bishop also noted that it was time for the murderers of Ya Naa Yakubu Andani II and 40 others in March 2002 to be brought to book as was being demanded, urging the two Gates, the Andanis and the Abudus, to work together to overcome their differences.
He said stability and peace were essential tools for peace and development and every effort should be made by all Ghanaians to bring peace to Dagbon, especially within and between the two Gates.
Bishop Boi-Nai cautioned the media to be circumspect in their reportage on events in Dagbon.
He asked journalists to avoid misleading headlines which could aggravate sensitive situations.
He hailed the formation of the Peace Committee made up of both families, adding that there were current plans to provide mediation training to the members on conflict resolution and transformation.
When asked about the challenges in the Yendi Diocese, Bishop Boi-Nai spoke about the problems for children born with various birth defects such as hydrocephalus or “big head”, speech impediments, hair lips, and malformed limbs.
He lamented that many of these children were either abandoned by their parents or became victims of ritual killings performed by juju men.
He said the Church had been trying to talk with the parents who usually allow their children to be taken to the Sisters of Charity who have an Orphanage in Kumasi.
According to the Bishop, a general lack of available antenatal care and proper nutrition for pregnant and child-bearing women were two main contributory factors to these birth defects. He noted that the more remote the village, the higher the rates for maternal and infant mortality, as well as birth defects.
Bishop Boi-Nai also talked about the challenges confronting the women “witches”. Contrary to earlier times, he said, the witches now live in their own communities or in special witch camps. Some of the women are
barely able to support themselves, having been totally rejected by their families.
He said that the Gnani Catholic Mission, through the work of Fr. Mazur, SVD, and the Catechist, are working within the local witch community to help the women to support themselves. Some of the women are also Church members.
The Bishop said that the Diocese was located in a predominantly Muslim area.
Thus, the work of primary evangelisation is slow but meaningful.
“We are working hard to build a Church that is self-supporting, self-ministering, and self-propagating,” he added.
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