The Gbewaa Palace has announced that the seventh-day Adua (Islamic prayers for the dead) for the late Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa-Naa Abubakari Mahama II, will be held on Friday, July 24, 2026, following the successful conclusion of the third-day prayers on Thursday.
The announcement was made by the Public Relations Officer of the Gbewaa Palace, Yakubu Musah, who said the third-day Adua was conducted peacefully without any security or other incidents.
He added that the Palace would, at the appropriate time, communicate further details on the next stages of the funeral rites, including matters relating to the Regent and the customary transition process.
Thursday’s Adua attracted thousands of mourners to the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi, including eminent traditional rulers, Islamic clerics, political leaders, government officials and sons and daughters of Dagbon from across the country.
Among the senior traditional rulers who attended were the Naa Bapri Mion-Lana and Naa Bakpemah Karinaa, both senior members of the Abudu Royal Family, as well as Naa Yab Kugunaa, Nanton Naa Mahamadu Bawa, and several other paramount, divisional and sub-chiefs from across the Dagbon Kingdom.
The ceremony was also attended by high-powered delegations from Ghana’s two major political parties.
The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) delegation was led by the party’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, and included the Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John Mburidiba; National Vice Chairman, Chief Sofo Awudu Azorka; members of the Northern Caucus of the NDC Majority in Parliament; and Northern Regional executives of the party.
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) was represented by a delegation mandated by its 2028 presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. The delegation was led by the Member of Parliament for Karaga, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, and included former Northern Regional Minister Salifu Saeed and other senior party officials.
The successful organisation of the event followed extensive security arrangements put in place by the Ghana Police Service. Ahead of the ceremony, the Inspector-General of Police deployed nearly 500 police personnel to Yendi to provide security and maintain law and order throughout the event.
Prior to the prayers, Naa Nyab Sing-Lana, COP Alhaji Iddi Lansah Seidu, Director-General in charge of Technical at the Ghana Police Service, assured the public that comprehensive security measures had been instituted to guarantee the peaceful and orderly observance of both the Islamic and traditional rites.
He urged mourners to cooperate with security personnel and comply with all directives, while cautioning against carrying sophisticated weapons, offensive implements or live ammunition, warning that offenders would face the full rigours of the law.
The absence of any security breaches during Thursday’s Adua was widely seen as a testament to the collaboration between the Gbewaa Palace, the security agencies and mourners, all of whom honoured the late Yaa-Naa’s enduring legacy of peace and reconciliation.
Yaa-Naa Abubakari Mahama II, who ascended the Skin of Dagbon in January 2019, passed away after a brief illness and was laid to rest at Katini in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Dagbon Kingdom. His passing has continued to draw tributes from traditional authorities, political leaders, diplomatic missions, religious organisations and citizens across Ghana and beyond, who have celebrated his reign as one marked by humility, unity and peace.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
