Dagbon gets new Yaa-Naa as peace is restored

After almost 4 decades of restlessness and conflicts and almost two decades of being without an overlord, the Dagbon Kingdom in the Northern Region can finally heave a sigh of relief.

The kingmakers of Dagbon led by the Gushei Na and Kugnaa have nominated the Chief of Savulugu to succeed the late Ya Na Yakubu Andani II who died in 2002.

The Chief of Savulugu, Yo Na Abubakar is the head of the Andani Royal family in Dagbon.

The nomination is in line with the customs and traditions in respect of succession to the Kingship of Dagbon.

The late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani’s successor until his rise to be Yaa-Naa as is expected to be announced was also the Kunkong Naa prior to becoming the Savelugu Naa.

Reports have it that Savelugu Naa Bukari Mahama II is from the Andani gate. He is believed to be in his 70s.

The decision of the traditional selection committee is also in line with the Dagbon constitution of 1930 and the Supreme Court decision of December 1986.

The Supreme Court in 1986 ordered that only occupants of the gate skins of Mion, Karaga and Savulugu are eligible to contest for the Kingship of Dagbon. The Supreme Court decision also barred regents of deceased Ya Nas from contesting.

Dagbon has been engulfed in protracted chieftaincy dispute which had claimed several lives and destroyed properties.

The government of President Kufour constituted the Otumfuo committee of Eminent Chiefs to employ customary mechanisms to resolve the problem.

The committee finally managed to get the Abudu and Andani royal families to commit to the roadmap to peace in Dagbon in late 2018.

This has led to the performance of the funeral rites of the late Ya Nas, Na Mahamadu Abdulai and Na Yakubu Andani.

The coronation of the new Ya Na begins as soon as possible.

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com