Tamale — Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has joined the chiefs and people of Dagbon at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi to witness the installation of Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu Abukari as Regent of Dagbon, in a ceremony steeped in the ancient customs, traditions and chieftaincy heritage of the Dagbon Kingdom.
Dr. Bawumia, who led a delegation of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the historic ceremony on Friday, joined traditional rulers, elders, political leaders, family members and residents in paying homage to the Dagbon traditional institution and witnessing the formal assumption of responsibility by the newly installed Regent.
The ceremony, held within the sacred precincts of the Gbewaa Palace, brought to the fore the depth and continuity of Dagbon’s traditional governance, where customs passed down through generations continue to guide the succession, authority and responsibilities of the traditional leadership.
Against the backdrop of drumming, singing and traditional rites, the gathering celebrated not only the installation of a Regent but also the resilience of Dagbon’s cultural identity and the enduring institution of chieftaincy.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Bawumia described the occasion as historic, commending the chiefs and people of Dagbon for preserving a cultural heritage that remains central to the identity, unity and collective memory of the Dagbamba people.
He said the occasion offered an important reminder of the responsibility of present generations to protect and transmit Dagbon’s customs and traditions to the generations yet unborn.
Reflecting on his longstanding relationship with the late Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II, Dr. Bawumia recalled that their association began when the late Overlord of Dagbon served as Yoo-Naa of Savelugu, long before he ascended the revered Skin of Yendi.
He said that relationship, sustained over the years, was founded on mutual respect, warmth and a shared commitment to the peace, development and advancement of Dagbon and its people.
Dr. Bawumia subsequently congratulated Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu Abukari on his installation, describing the responsibility entrusted to him as one that carries with it the weight of tradition, history and the expectations of the people.
He urged the newly installed Regent to remain steadfast in protecting the values of peace, unity and stability associated with the legacy of his late father, Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II, while working to strengthen the bonds that unite the people of Dagbon.
The former Vice President also used the occasion to acknowledge the importance of traditional leadership in sustaining peace and social cohesion, particularly in a kingdom whose traditional institution remains deeply woven into the cultural and social fabric of its people.
The installation of Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu Abukari therefore represents more than a ceremonial transition of traditional responsibility; it is a reaffirmation of Dagbon’s enduring customs, the authority of its traditional institutions and the collective obligation to preserve the kingdom’s heritage.
As the drums of Dagbon continue to speak the language of history and tradition, the occasion at the Gbewaa Palace has once again brought into sharp focus the timeless responsibility of one generation to safeguard the heritage entrusted to it for the generations that follow.
