Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II, Overlord of Dagbon Kingdom, Dies After Seven-Year Reign
The Overlord of the Dagbon Kingdom, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II, has passed away after serving on the throne for seven years. His death marks the end of a reign widely remembered for restoring peace, unity, and stability to one of Ghana’s most influential traditional kingdoms.
Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II became the 41st Yaa Naa in January 2019 following the successful implementation of the Dagbon Peace Roadmap, which brought an end to the long-standing chieftaincy conflict that had divided the kingdom for nearly two decades. His enskinment symbolized the reunification of the Abudu and Andani royal gates, ushering in a new era of peace and reconciliation.
Born into the Dagbon royal family at Mion, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II was the son of Yaa Naa Mahama II, who ruled Dagbon from 1938 until February 6, 1948. His mother, Ayishetu, was a princess from Kulunkpegu, a community near Chaazaadaanyili in Ghana’s Northern Region. Before ascending to the Dagbon throne, he served as the chief of Kpunkpono and was later elevated to the prestigious Savelugu Skin, one of the three traditional gate skins from which a Yaa Naa is selected.
Throughout his reign, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II championed peace, development, and good traditional governance. In 2021, he launched the Dagbon Development Fund to mobilize resources for the socio-economic development of the kingdom. On March 4, 2023, he cut the sod for the reconstruction of the historic Gbewaa Palace, a landmark project supported by individuals, corporate organizations, and state institutions. He also initiated a review of the Dagbon Constitution in 2020 to strengthen traditional governance and address emerging challenges within the kingdom.
Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II will be remembered as a visionary traditional ruler whose leadership transformed the Dagbon Kingdom after years of instability. His commitment to peace, unity, and development leaves behind a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire future generations across Dagbon and Ghana as a whole.
