President John Dramani Mahama has called on the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu II, to preserve peace and unity in the traditional area while building on the legacy of the late Ya-Naa Abukari II. The President made the appeal during a courtesy visit by the Regent and his delegation to the Presidency. The delegation expressed gratitude to the government for its support during the late Ya-Naa’s illness and funeral.
President Mahama described peace in Dagbon as invaluable, urging traditional leaders to protect it through their actions, decisions and interactions with their communities. “The peace of Dagbon is precious, and we must protect it through our words, our decisions and our treatment of one another,” he said.
He encouraged the Regent to maintain engagement with families and communities to promote unity and address disagreements through dialogue and mutual understanding. The President also expressed his condolences to the Regent over the loss of his father, noting that efforts had been made to ensure the late Ya-Naa received the necessary medical care, including facilitating treatment in South Africa.
He said the late traditional ruler’s contributions to Dagbon and Ghana could best be honoured by preserving his legacy and advancing the unity he worked to promote. During the visit, the delegation thanked President Mahama for attending the late Ya-Naa’s seven-day Islamic funeral and participating in the installation of the new Regent.
President Mahama praised Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu II for his commitment to continuing his father’s work, describing the late Ya-Naa as a bridge-builder whose legacy should inspire further efforts to foster harmony among communities.
He noted that the Regent’s installation reflected the prevailing peace in Dagbon but cautioned that his new role would demand wisdom, patience, consultation and fairness in the discharge of his responsibilities.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s respect for Dagbon’s customs, traditions and traditional institutions, stressing that traditional authorities must be allowed to carry out their duties with dignity. He also assured the Regent that Dagbon would receive its fair share of development initiatives under his administration. “As long as I remain President, Dagbon will receive its fair share of the development projects my government can undertake,” President Mahama stated.
