The Dagbon Traditional Council has announced the passing of His Royal Majesty Ndan Yaa-Naa Abukari II, King and Overlord of the Dagbon Kingdom.
In a public announcement issued on Monday, July 13, the Council said the Yaa-Naa passed away on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
The announcement, jointly issued by the Gbewaa Palace, the Dagbon Traditional Council and the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, described the late king as a unifier whose reign was dedicated to promoting peace, reconciliation, and development.
The Council said the late Yaa-Naa had been laid to rest at the sacred precincts of the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi in the early hours of Monday, in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Dagbon Kingdom.
It announced that third-day prayers for the late monarch will be held on Thursday, July 16, at the Gbewaa Palace, while details of the formal funeral rites will be announced later in line with Dagbon tradition and royal protocol.
Paying tribute to the late king, the Council described him as a bridge-builder who led the kingdom with wisdom and worked to strengthen peace and unity in Dagbon.
The Council also expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for what it described as his personal intervention to facilitate medical treatment for the Yaa-Naa abroad during his final days and for ensuring that his remains were returned to Ghana with dignity.
Calling on the people of Dagbon to honour the late Yaa-Naa’s legacy, the Council urged them to uphold peace and unity during the mourning period.
“The greatest honour we can pay to his memory is to live by these words. Let there be no conflict in our grief. Let there be no discord in our mourning,” the statement said.
