The Paramount Chief of the Tolon Traditional Area, Major (Rtd) Sulemana Abubakari, has died, deepening the grief in Dagbon just days after the passing of the Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II.
The death of the Tolon Naa has added to the mourning across the Dagbon Traditional Area, which is still coming to terms with the loss of its revered overlord.
Major (Rtd) Sulemana Abubakari was one of the senior chiefs in the Dagbon traditional hierarchy and served as the traditional defence chief of the Yaa Naa.
Historical accounts of Dagbon’s traditional military structure indicate that the Tolon Naa played an important role in mobilising warriors and defending the Dagbon Kingdom.
The late chief was born in 1943 at Tali and had a distinguished career in the Ghana Armed Forces. He served as an escort officer to Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, before retiring from the military with the rank of Major.
He was the first son of the late Tolon Naa Alhassan Sulemana.
Following the death of his father, he became Regent of Tolon in 2001 and served in that capacity for 18 years.
In 2019, he was enskinned as the substantive Tolon Naa by the late Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II after the completion of his father’s funeral rites.
His death comes at a particularly difficult moment for Dagbon, following the recent passing of the Yaa Naa, whose death has united the traditional area in mourning.
The passing of two prominent figures in the Dagbon traditional hierarchy within a short period has further heightened the sense of loss among chiefs, elders and residents across the kingdom.
Funeral arrangements for the late Tolon Naa are expected to be conducted in accordance with Islamic and Dagbon traditional customs.
Details of the final funeral rites are expected to be announced by the appropriate traditional authorities.
