President John Dramani Mahama has paid glowing tribute to the late Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa-Naa Abubakari Mahama II, describing him as a visionary peacemaker whose reign transformed the kingdom through forgiveness, reconciliation and selfless leadership.
Addressing chiefs, elders, government officials, religious leaders and thousands of mourners during the formal enskinment of Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu Abubakari, Regent of Dagbon, at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi on Friday, the President assured the people of Dagbon of government’s unwavering support in preserving the peace and stability established under the late monarch.
Speaking on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, President Mahama conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family, the Dagbon Traditional Council and the entire Kingdom over the passing of the revered King.
He said the occasion was not only a period of mourning but also an opportunity to reflect on the enduring values that have sustained the Dagbon Kingdom.
President Mahama commended the traditional authorities for faithfully observing the customs and traditions of Dagbon following the death of the Yaa-Naa, noting that the burial rites, installation of the Regent and other customary processes demonstrated the resilience, discipline and strength of the kingdom’s traditional institutions.
He said the peace currently prevailing in Dagbon did not happen by chance but was deliberately built and nurtured through forgiveness, dialogue and reconciliation.
According to the President, Yaa-Naa Abubakari Mahama II ascended the Skin of Dagbon at a time the kingdom was emerging from one of the most difficult periods in its history, yet chose peace as the defining principle of his reign.
“The late Yaa-Naa never saw reconciliation as a sign of weakness,” President Mahama said, adding that the late King consistently placed the unity and welfare of Dagbon above personal or sectional interests.
He praised the late monarch for championing the formulation and adoption of the Dagbon Constitution, describing it as a landmark reform that has strengthened traditional governance and provided a framework for succession, stability and lasting peace within the kingdom.
President Mahama further revealed that throughout his reign, the late Yaa-Naa never sought personal favours from government but consistently advocated policies and interventions aimed at improving education, agriculture, youth employment and the overall development of Northern Ghana.
He assured the people of Dagbon that his government would continue to work closely with the Dagbon Traditional Council to consolidate the gains made in peacebuilding and accelerate the socio-economic development of the kingdom.
Touching on the installation of Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu Abubakari, the President described the ceremony as more than a customary ritual, saying it symbolised continuity, stability and the enduring strength of Dagbon’s traditional governance system.
He commended the newly installed Regent for accepting the responsibility of steering the affairs of the kingdom during the interregnum and expressed confidence that he would uphold the customs, traditions and unity of Dagbon.
In a major announcement, President Mahama disclosed that he had directed the National Security Council to ensure the completion of the Gbewaa Palace before the selection and enskinment of a new Yaa-Naa.
He said completing the palace would provide a befitting setting for the next chapter in the history of the Dagbon Kingdom while reaffirming government’s commitment to supporting peace, stability and development in the traditional area.
Friday’s enskinment of Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu Abubakari attracted thousands of dignitaries from across Ghana, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, ministers of state, Members of Parliament, political party leaders and sons and daughters of Dagbon.
Among those present were the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu; New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu; Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John Mburidiba; and the Buipewura, Mahama Abdulai Jinapor, Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Area, alongside several eminent chiefs from across the country.
Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu Abubakari, the eldest son of the late Yaa-Naa Abubakari Mahama II, assumes the role of Regent of Dagbon and will oversee the affairs of the kingdom while the remaining funeral rites are completed, pending the customary processes leading to the selection and enskinment of a new Overlord of Dagbon.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
