BY GRACE ZIGAH
Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has praised the Dagbon Traditional Council for maintaining peace and respecting the established Peace Accord following the death of Ya-Na Abukari II.
Nana Akufo-Addo made the commendation on Saturday, August 29, 2026, when he visited the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi to extend his condolences to the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya Naa Yakubu, as well as chiefs, elders and the people of Dagbon.
His visit came at a sensitive moment for Dagbon as the traditional area begins the process of selecting a successor to the late overlord, whose death in July 2026 brought renewed attention to the succession arrangements between the two principal royal families, Abudu and Andani.
The former President said he was particularly encouraged by the decision of the Regent and senior traditional leaders to uphold the Peace Accord, which provides a framework for succession through rotation between the Abudu and Andani royal families.
He described the commitment to the agreement as important not only for the Dagbon Traditional Area but also for the peace, stability and development of northern Ghana and the country as a whole.
“I am strongly encouraged by the decision of the Regent and senior traditional figures of Dagbon to uphold the Peace Accord, which has enshrined the time-tested traditions of Dagbon in selecting, through the principle of rotation, a worthy successor to Ya-Na Abukari II,” Nana Akufo-Addo said.
He further paid tribute to the late Ya-Na, whom he described as a friend, while acknowledging his contribution to peace and development in Dagbon during his reign.
Following the death of Ya-Na Abukari II in July, Kampakuya Naa Yakubu was installed as Regent in accordance with Dagbon customs to oversee the affairs of the traditional area during the transition.
The succession process is particularly significant given Dagbon’s history of tensions surrounding the traditional kingship. The Peace Accord has therefore been regarded as an important mechanism for ensuring that the transition remains peaceful and rooted in established customary arrangements.
Nana Akufo-Addo’s comments underline the importance of preserving the gains made in Dagbon’s peace process and ensuring that the succession to the late Ya-Na does not reopen divisions between the royal families.
He urged the traditional authorities and people of Dagbon to continue protecting the peace as the traditional area prepares for the next stage of its leadership transition.
