YENDI, July 31, 2026 — The newly installed Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu II, has pledged to uphold the rotational arrangement governing the succession to the Dagbon chieftaincy, describing the agreement between the Andani and Abudu royal gates as a critical foundation for lasting peace in the Kingdom.
Speaking in his maiden speech at his installation ceremony at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu II said the succession arrangement represented a collective commitment by the royal families and kingmakers to place the peace and unity of Dagbon above individual or gate interests.
According to the Regent, the arrangement was not established out of weakness but reflected the wisdom of those who understood that peace was more valuable than victory and that a united Dagbon was stronger than the triumph of any single royal family.
In affirming his position, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu II declared that he accepted and embraced the rotational arrangement and would work to ensure that it was respected throughout the transition period and beyond.
More importantly, he assured the people of Dagbon that when the time came to enskin a new King and Overlord of Dagbon, the process would follow the agreed path transparently and faithfully, in accordance with tradition and the peace compact that has helped restore stability to the Kingdom.
In drawing lessons from the reign of his late father, Ndan Yaa Naa Abukari II, the Regent said the late Overlord demonstrated the importance of placing the collective interests of Dagbon ahead of narrow royal gate considerations.
To illustrate this commitment, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu II noted that his father had enskinned more Abudu chiefs than Andani chiefs during his reign, arguing that the decision demonstrated his determination to govern for the entire Dagbon Kingdom rather than favour one royal gate.
Against this backdrop, the Regent said he would walk in the footsteps of his late father by protecting the peace he helped to build and ensuring that the succession arrangement remained a tool for unity rather than a source of division.
At the same time, he cautioned individuals and groups against using the transition following the death of Yaa Naa Abukari II as an opportunity to plant seeds of discord or advance narrow gate interests.
For this reason, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu II called on President John Dramani Mahama, chiefs, elders, family heads and community leaders to support the commitment to a peaceful transition and ensure that the interests of Dagbon remained paramount.
Beyond the succession question, the Regent pledged to preserve the broader peace and reconciliation achieved under the late Yaa Naa Abukari II, stressing that the peace of Dagbon belonged to all its people and constituted a collective inheritance that must be protected.
Similarly, he committed himself to continuing the development initiatives championed by his late father, including the construction of the new Gbewaa Palace, the Dagbon Ten-Year Development Plan, the University for Development Studies Yendi Campus, as well as agricultural and energy development partnerships.
Furthermore, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu II pledged to maintain the relationships established by the late Overlord with the Government of Ghana, international partners, corporate institutions, neighbouring kingdoms and other traditional authorities.
In his broader vision for the transition, the Regent said peace must remain the guiding principle in relations between the Andani and Abudu gates, communities, ethnic groups and religious groups, urging all stakeholders to resist actions that could undermine the stability achieved in Dagbon.
Reflecting on his late father’s leadership, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu II described Yaa Naa Abukari II as a builder of peace and reconciliation who devoted his reign to creating bridges of trust among people and communities.
Consequently, he pledged that none of the bridges built by his father would be destroyed under his watch, saying he would honour his father not merely through words and ceremonies but through service, responsible leadership and the preservation of peace.
As he assumes the responsibility of Regent, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu II said he was mindful that he could not replace his father but could honour his memory by ensuring that the peace, unity and stability he worked to establish remained firmly rooted in Dagbon.
In concluding his address, the Regent reaffirmed his commitment to the people of Dagbon and prayed for divine wisdom and strength to guide him in carrying out his responsibilities, while calling for lasting peace, unity and prosperity for the Kingdom.
Ultimately, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu II’s commitment to the rotational succession arrangement places the preservation of Dagbon’s hard-won peace at the centre of his regency, signalling a determination to ensure that the transition remains guided by tradition, consensus and the collective interest of the Kingdom.
