The New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II.
He extended his condolences to the royal family, the chiefs, and the people of the Dagbon Kingdom.
In a statement released on Monday, July 13, Dr Bawumia said he received the news of the Ya-Na’s passing with great sadness.
He described the late overlord’s death as a major loss not only to Dagbon but also to the entire country.
Dr Bawumia praised the late king for leading Dagbon through one of the most difficult periods in its history.
He said the Ya-Na used wisdom and patience to restore peace, strengthen unity, and support the kingdom’s progress.
“Ndan Ya-Na Abukari II emerged as the King of Dagbon during one of the most challenging periods in Dagbon history, and with ancestral wisdom and patience, he guided the ancient Kingdom towards peace, unity and prosperity,” he stated.
He also acknowledged the lasting impact of the late monarch’s leadership.
Although the Ya-Na did not spend many years on the throne, Dr Bawumia said his efforts helped reconcile divided families and promote development across Dagbon.
He noted that the late king “united families once broken and healed a society greatly fractured before him,” adding that he also “constantly advocated for and lobbied for major developmental projects in Dagbon.”
Dr Bawumia also reflected on his personal relationship with the Ya-Na.
He said the traditional ruler offered him valuable advice during his time as Vice President and later as the NPP’s presidential candidate.
“It was always an honor to pay him homage at the ancient Gbewaa Palace and to draw from his immeasurable wisdom and guidance,” he said, adding that the Ya-Na’s death was “a great loss to me, to the Dagbon Kingdom, and to Ghana as a whole.”
Dr Bawumia prayed for Allah’s comfort and strength for the bereaved family, the chiefs, the people of Dagbon, and the nation during this period of mourning.
“May Allah comfort his immediate family, the Chiefs and people of Dagbon, and Ghana as a whole. It is a painful affliction,” he said.
