President John Dramani Mahama has been formally informed of the death of the Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abukari II, following a traditional notification by a high-powered delegation from the Dagbon Traditional Council at the Jubilee House.
The delegation, comprising senior chiefs, kingmakers and members of the royal family, visited the Presidency to officially communicate the passing of the revered monarch in accordance with Dagbon customs and traditions. The visit marked an important cultural process preceding the commencement of traditional funeral arrangements.
President Mahama received the delegation with deep emotion and described the late Yaa Naa as a respected traditional ruler whose reign strengthened peace, reconciliation and development in the Dagbon Kingdom. He said the monarch’s leadership extended beyond the traditional area and contributed significantly to national unity.
The President extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved royal family, the Dagbon Traditional Council and the people of Dagbon, assuring them of the government’s solidarity during the mourning period.
“The nation has lost a distinguished traditional leader whose commitment to peace and stability will remain part of Ghana’s history,” President Mahama noted, while encouraging the people of Dagbon to preserve the unity that characterised the late King’s reign.
Yaa Naa Abukari II ascended the Dagbon skin in 2019 after the successful implementation of the recommendations of the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, a process that ended years of conflict between the Abudu and Andani royal gates. His enskinment marked a new chapter for the kingdom, restoring stability after one of Ghana’s longest-running chieftaincy disputes.
Throughout his reign, the late Overlord was widely recognised for promoting dialogue, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence. Traditional leaders and state institutions frequently acknowledged his role in strengthening relations among the royal gates while championing development initiatives across the Northern Region.
The death of the Yaa Naa has triggered an outpouring of tributes from government officials, Parliament, the National House of Chiefs and other institutions, all describing him as a unifying figure whose legacy will endure. Parliament has hailed him as an architect of lasting peace in Dagbon, while the National House of Chiefs described his passing as a monumental loss to Ghana’s chieftaincy institution.
Traditional rites are expected to continue in the coming days as the Dagbon Kingdom observes its customs before the process of selecting and enskinning a new Overlord begins.
BY GBEDEVI DORCAS SELORM