The Paramount Chief of the Tolon Traditional Area, Major (Rtd) Sulemana Abubakari, has died days after the passing of the Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II. His death has further deepened the mourning in Dagbon, where the traditional kingdom is still grieving the loss of its 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. The position of Tolon Naa has historically played an important role in the traditional military structure of Dagbon, including the mobilisation of warriors for the defence of the kingdom.
The late chief was born in 1943 at Tali and had a distinguished military background. He served as an escort officer to Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, before retiring from the Ghana Armed Forces 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, a position he held for 18 years.
In 2019, he was enskinned as the substantive Tolon Naa by the late Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II, after completing the funeral rites of his father. His elevation marked his formal return to the traditional leadership of the Tolon Traditional Area after years of serving as regent.
The death of the Tolon Naa comes at a particularly difficult time for the Dagbon Traditional Area, following the recent passing of the Yaa Naa. The two deaths have added to the grief among chiefs, elders and residents across the Dagbon Kingdom.
As one of the senior traditional authorities within Dagbon, the passing of the Tolon Naa is expected to be widely mourned across the traditional area, particularly given his historical role as a defence chief and his service to the Dagbon traditional institution.
The final funeral rites of Major (Rtd) Sulemana Abubakari are expected to be conducted in accordance with Islamic and Dagbon traditional customs. Details of the funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the appropriate traditional authorities.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe