The Parliament of Ghana has joined calls for unity amongst the people of Dagbon during the period of mourning the passing of their overlord Ya-Naa Mahama Abukari II who died on Saturday, July 11, 2026 after a 7-year reign on the skin which was preceded by decades long feud between two royal gates over the Dagbon traditional leadership. In a statement issued today and signed by the Director of Media Relations, Mr. David Sebastian Damoah, Parliament extended its deepest condolences to the Gbewaa Palace, the Dagbon Traditional Council, the royal family, and the entire Dagbon people in this moment of profound loss to the nation.

The statement read, “Parliament recognises the late King as a true stateman whose leadership demonstrated the enduring value of dialogue, unity and reconciliation. His commitment to peace strengthened not only the Dagbon Kingdom but the wider fabric of Ghana’s chieftaincy institutions and national cohesion.”

Ya-Naa Abukari II, 87, became the 41st Overlord of Dagbon Kingdom and president of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs when he ascended the skin on January 18, 2019, following a historic peace process that ended years of division between the Abudu and Andani royal gates over the paramountcy. His enskinment signaled an end to one of the most protracted and painful chieftaincy disputes in the history of Ghana – a reign that brought what is widely regarded as one of reconciliation, healing and restoration of traditional authority.

In its call for unity among the people of Dagbon in this time of grief, the institution reiterated the Gbewaa Palace’s appeal for harmony in honour of the late King’s legacy of peace.

“At this time of mourning, Parliament joins the Palace in its call for the people of Dagbon to remain united and to honour the late King’s legacy of peace. As the Palace itself has appealed, “let there be no conflict in our grief, let there be no discord in our mourning”

“May the Almighty grant the family of the late Yaa-Naa, the Chiefs and people of Dagbon, and all who mourn him, the fortitude to bear this great loss. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”