Former Vice President of Ghana and the 2028 Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has mourned the passing of Yaa Naa Abukari II, the King of Dagbon.
The Dagbon Overlord reportedly died abroad, where he was receiving treatment after weeks of illness.
He was laid to rest earlier Monday (July 13, 2026) at Katini (The sacred precincts of the Gbewaa Palace where Yaa Naas are buried) in line with the customs and traditions of the Dagbon Kingdom.
Hours after the news broke out about the demise of the Yaa Naa, Dr Bawumia, in a statement on Monday, said, “To Allah we belong completely and to Him shall we return ultimately.”
”It is with grief that I send my sincere condolences to the Chiefs and people of the Dagbon Kingdom on the passing of Ndan Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II, he added.
Dr Bawumia intimated that Yaa Naa Abukari II emerged as the King of Dagbon during one of the most challenging periods in Dagbon history, and with ancestral wisdom and patience, he guided the ancient Kingdom towards peace, unity and prosperity.
The former Vice President stated that the reign of the 41st Dagbon King was short but greatly impactful.
He emphasised that through his wise leadership, he united families once broken and healed a society greatly fractured before him.
The NPP Presidential candidate indicated that Naa Abukari II represented a blend of tradition and modernity perfectly in the way he led Dagbon.
”He constantly advocated for and lobbied for major developmental projects in Dagbon” he disclosed.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said at the personal level, he benefited immensely from the wise counsel of the traditional ruler during his time as Vice President of Ghana and later, as the Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party.
”It was always an honour to pay him homage at the ancient Gbewaa Palace and to draw from his immeasurable wisdom and guidance.
”His passing marks a great loss to me, to the Dagbon Kingdom, and to Ghana as a whole. May Allah comfort his immediate family, the Chiefs and people,” he prayed.
