Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia with Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jawu Soale at the Jakpa Palace in Damongo
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was given a rousing welcome by Gonjas who thronged the outdooring of Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jawu Soale at the Jakpa Palace in Damongo.
This was after the enskinment of Tulewewura Amonebafe Borenyi as the 34th Yagbonwura of Gonja Traditional Area in the Savannah Region.
The arrival of Dr. Bawumia at the traditional grounds sent the crowd into a frenzy as both women and men cheered him on.
Dr. Bawumia congratulated the new Yagbonwura and wished him a healthy and long life at the ceremony which brought together sons and daughters of Gonjaland from across the country to celebrate the new Overlord.
“I want to assure you that government will give you the utmost support for development in the region, and this is why we created the Savannah Region, and everybody can see that since the creation of the Savannah Region, the development of the Gonja Kingdom has been elevated,” the Vice President stated.
Dr. Bawumia also assured the Yagbonwura of his determination to support him in his vision to settle all territorial and chieftaincy disputes peacefully.
“Our enemy is poverty, and we should make sure that we come together,” he pointed out.
Dr. Bawumia stated that the smooth and peaceful succession arrangements for the Yagbonwura is highly commendable and worth emulating.
The Overlord of the Gonja State, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jawu Soale, at his outdooring indicated that his focus will be on the development and transformation of the Gonja State.
He indicated that the Gonjaland constitute about 16% of the land areas of Ghana, with a far below national average population density of 19 persons per sq./km and therefore one of the most suitable areas in Ghana for large-scale commercial agriculture under irrigation.
The Yagbonwura thanked the government for the creation of the Savannah Region as well as the construction of the Regional Coordinating Council Offices and other development infrastructure befitting the new region.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, who also graced the outdooring of the new Yagbonwura, commended the smooth rotational system of the Gonja State and urged the chiefs and kingmakers to ensure that the rotational system is sustained.
… Reject Mahama
Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama was reportedly hooted at when his entourage arrived at the ceremony.
The natives started to hoot at the former President, who is also a Gonja, after the arrival of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at the traditional grounds.
Unfortunately, the hooting intensified as people could be heard clapping and screaming “away” when Mr. Mahama took his turn in an attempt to address the charged crowd, according to a video trending on social media.
The situation led to a petty scuffle between security forces and celebrants, as a combined team of police and personal security of the former President at the venue intervened to restore calm.
But some chiefs at the grounds, were said to have expressed misgivings about the unfortunate incident.
The former President was accompanied to the grounds by some functionaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Information gathered indicates that the Gonjas declared former President Mahama a persona non-grata at the grounds as according to them, the former President had abandoned them during the funeral rites of the late king and installation of the new king.
Already, some indigenes of Gonja have expressed their unhappiness with former President John Dramani Mahama over his supposed continuous disregard for the customs and traditions of Gonjaland.
According to them, the continuous disrespect by the former president who hails from the area has left much to be desired.
They said as a royal and son of Gonjaland, Mr. Mahama was nowhere to be found at the seventh Adua (funeral rites) for the late Overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I, at Damongo at the Jakpa Palace.
As if that was not enough, the people said Mr. Mahama again failed to attend 12th Day Adua on Thursday, March 2, 2023, which Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia albeit his busy schedule was able to participate.
At the time of prayers for the late Gonja King, Mr. Mahama was busily campaigning in Ho, the Volta Regional capital where he launched his political comeback.
Yagbonwura Sulemana Tuntunba Boresa I died on Sunday, February 5, 2023 aged 90.
He was buried at the Royal Cemetery at Mankuma in the Bole District in accordance with Gonja traditions.
The 7th-day funeral rites which President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo participated paved way for other rituals that will lead to the installation of the next Yagbonwura.
In a statement issued by one Abubakari Ridwan Afeso, an indigene of Gonja, expressed dissatisfaction as to why former President Mahama will desert his king and kinsmen in terms of mourning and celebrating their king, since one of the best respect and honour they can do for not only the late king but the land is to see all their kinsmen who have or had the rare privilege to serve at the pinnacle of political governance in Ghana to pay their last respect and associate with the people.
He described the action of Mr. Mahama as bizarre, unfortunate, and most dishonourable.
FROM Eric Kombat & Vincent Kubi