The King of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II, has passed on.
Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II reportedly died in South Africa, where he had travelled to seek medical treatment following a brief illness.
Being the 41st Yaa Naa, he was enskinned on January 18, 2019, following a historic peace process that concluded years of division between the Abudu and Andani royal gates regarding the Dagbon traditional leadership.
His rise to the throne marked a pivotal moment for the kingdom, and his reign was widely acknowledged as a time of reconciliation, healing, and the restoration of traditional authority in Dagbon.
Born Bukali in Mion, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II was the son of Yaa Naa Mahama II, who ruled Dagbon from 1938 until his demise on February 6, 1948.
His mother, Ayishetu, was a princess from Kulunkpegu, located near Chaazaadaanyili in the Northern Region.
Before his ascension as Yaa Naa, he began his traditional leadership journey as the chief of Kpunkpono, subsequently rising to the Savelugu skin.
Savelugu is one of the three traditional gate skins in Dagbon, whose holders are eligible to be considered for the Yendi throne.
The Yendi skin had remained unoccupied since 2002 following violent confrontations between the Abudu and Andani royal gates, a conflict that exacerbated divisions within the kingdom and disrupted traditional activities for many years.
After extensive mediation efforts involving the Ghanaian government and prominent chiefs, the two factions reached an agreement through a roadmap for peace aimed at restoring stability and resolving the protracted dispute.
It was under this arrangement that Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II was chosen and ordained by the kingmakers of Dagbon in 2019.
As the overlord of Dagbon, he was widely recognised as a symbol of unity and endeavoured to enhance reconciliation between the two royal gates.
Following the return of President John Dramani Mahama, Yaa-Naa Abukari II paid a courtesy call on him at the Presidency in June 2025.
The visit was for the Overlord to offer his congratulations to President Mahama on his re-election in December 2024 and express support for his leadership and vision for the nation.
