Bawumia and his host during his visit
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was a guest of the Dagbon Overlord, Yaa Naa Abukari Mahama, at the King’s private residence in Tamale last Tuesday evening.
The visit preceded yesterday’s first independence anniversary celebration outside the nation’s capital where the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Nana Akufo-Addo was the reviewing officer.
Dr. Bawuma, who is well versed in the courtesies at Northern palaces, was not lost, as he paid the traditional obeisance at the feet of the ‘Lion of Dagbon.’
He praised the Yaa Naa for what he described as the King’s efforts towards sustaining peace and unity in the Dagbon Kingdom and pledged government’s continuous support for his office.
The King recently enskinned the Bolina Lana as the Mion Chief and Kampakuya Naa as the Yoo Naa or Savelugu Chief, thus resolving a thorny issue on the roadmap.
He earned the president’s accolade for the action.
The Yaa Naa, on his part, lauded the president for his commitment towards the resolution of the dispute that has dogged Dagbon for many years.
He promised to work with all sides for the realization of the vision of the government for the people of Dagbon.
The convergence on the regional capital of the traditional rulers is auspicious, as it comes on the heels of the resolution of the Dagbon debacle.
The appearance of the newly-enskinned chiefs of Savelugu and Mion in the persons of the former Kampakuya Naa and the Bolin Lana, the immediate-past regents of Dagbon or Yani, added colour to the occasion and placing the icing on the cake of peace.
Their appearance for a celebration and not for how to resolve an outstanding dispute added to the elation of the President.
The rare convergence of royals of the Northern Region in Tamale earned a major and rare PR boost for the President, reminding septuagenarians and others of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1960.
By A.R. Gomda