Ya Na Abukari Mahama II
The Dagbon Forum, a grouping of concerned citizens of Dagbon, have given their support to the Ya Na for his recent enskinment of chiefs for the Sang and Nyankpala traditional areas.
A statement on the subject and signed by Ahmed Abdul-Razak De-Gangso, General Secretary of the Forum, pointed at Dagbon Kingdom’s beautifully designed traditional governance system with clear command structure and with the Ndan Yaa-Naa at the helm of affairs.
“Dagbon Forum wishes to re-echo the sacred duty upon every Dagbana be they chiefs or ordinary citizens as well as non-Dagbamba residing on the soil of Dagbon, to respect the authority of Ndan Yaa-Naa. Dagbon Forum is fully aware of the circumstances that led to the action of Ndan Yaa-Naa at Sang and Nyankpala. Much as Dagbon Forum recognise and respect all the customary rights that the regents of Sang and Nyankpala might be entitled to, it takes serious exception to the persistent defiance of the order by Ndan Yaa-Naa for the funerals of the two late chiefs of Sang and Nyankpala to be performed by the respective regents.”
Dagbon Forum has made it known that, the right given to regents to initiate the performance of their father’s funerals is not an absolute or open-ended right, adding that “it is a right with limits and the authority of Ndan Yaa-Naa over the entire Dagbon supersede that right. Dagbon Kingdom is not without a head or authority. The Ndan Yaa-Naa is the Supreme ruler of Dagbon Kingdom with absolute authority over its affairs.” Dagbon Forum, the statement continues, “holds the view that Ndan Yaa-Naa has the sacred duty to ensure orderliness in Dagbon, and it is in the light of this sacred duty that His Majesty took the actions he took on Sang and Nyankpala. “By this Press Release, Dagbon Forum wished to reiterate its support for the King of Dagbon and wish to make it clear that it is standing solidly behind him in all his actions that are meant to ensure orderliness in the Dagbon governance system.”
By A.R. Gomda