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Gariba II
His Royal Highness His Royal Majesty King of Dagbɔŋ Yaa Naa Bukali II
Reign	January 18, 2019 – Present
Enskined	January 25, 2019
Predecessor	Yakubu II
Born	Abubakar (1939-01-01) 1 January 1939 (age 85) (disputed) Mion (disputed)
Names Abukari Mahama Regnal name Gariba II
House	Andani
Father	Mahama II
Mother	Ayishetu
Occupation	Yaa Naa Farmer Horseman

Bukali II (Bukali, Bukari, Abukari, Abubakar; born 1939 or 1940's), known as Gariba II, is the current Yaa Naa, traditional ruler of the Kingdom of Dagbon in Northern Ghana.

Bukali was born into royalty at Mion to Mahama II, the Yaa Naa from 1938 to 6 February 1948. His mother, Ayishetu, was a princess from Kulunpke, a small community near Chaazaadaanyili in Northern Ghana. Bukali's first undertook public duties as the chief of Kpunkpono until he was elevated to Savelugu; one of three gate skins to succeed the Yaa Naa.

Bukali was ordained by the kingmakers of Dagbon as the 41st Yaa Naa on January 18, 2019, following a chieftaincy dispute that left the Yendi skins vacant for 16 years.

Investiture

The ceremony to outdoor Bukali II began on January 25 throughout 27 of 2019. The preceding two weeks of his investiture was devoted to the celebration of the final funeral rites of Mahamadu IV and Yakubu II; each lasting one week with the former taking the lead. This timeline was determined by the Committee of Eminent Chiefs formed by the Government of Ghana to intervene the dispute that followed the murder of the immediate past Yaa Naa Yakubu II that led to a 17-years long vacancy of the Yendi skins.

On Friday January 18, 2019; the final day of the funeral of Yakubu II, kingmakers of Dagbon led by the Kuga Naa Abdulai Adam II, consulted the Dagbon oracles to select a new king from among four contenders; namely, Yoo Naa Abukari Mahama; chief of Savelugu, Kampakuya Naa Abdulai Yakubu; regent of Yakubu II, Bolin Lana Abdulai Mahamudu; regent of Mahamadu IV, and Tampion Lana Alhassan Andani, chief of Tampion. Grass pulled from the roof of the Gbewaa Palace by the Gushei Naa was handed over to Abukari Mahama by the Kuga Naa. This gesture signified that the oracle had chosen Abukari Mahama to be the Yaa Naa.

The ceremony of the investiture was held at the forecourt of the Gbewaa Palace. Special guest of honor was the president of Ghana, Nana Akufo Addo. Present at the ceremony were Chiefs from Dagbon and their entourage, religious leaders, government officials, politicians and political party representatives including former president John Mahama, and delegations sent by various paramouncies and chiefdoms including Asanteman and Mamprugu. The ceremony was chaired by Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State in the Volta Region and President of the National House of Chiefs.

Ancestry

Projects and Initiatives

Dagbon Development Fund

In 2021, Bukali II launched the Dagbon Development Fund.

Gbewaa Palace Redevelopmet

On March 4, 2023, he cut sod for the reconstruction of the Gbewaa Palace.

Revision of Dagbon Constitution

Bukali II initiated the review of the Dagbon constitution in 2020. He inaugurated a committee whose membere were: Naa Yaba Kuɣa-Naa Abdulai II; Naa Yaba Sunson-Naa Shani Hamidu II; Naa Yaba Gushe-Naa Shitobu Abdulai I; Naa Yaba Tolon-Naa Abubakari I, Naa Yaba Kumbun-Naa Yiri II Alhaji Iddrisu Abu, Naa Yaba Nanton-Naa Mahamadu V, Naa Bakpem Kar-Naa Nantogmah, Naa Bakpem Yoo-Naa Abdulai V, Naa Bapra Mion-Lana Abdulai III, Naa Bapra Sagnar-Naa Ambassador Yakubu, Naa Bapra Chereponi-Fame Nanyame Kofi Malba, Naa Bapra Sabob-Naa Uchababor John Mateer Bowan, Naa Bapra Nakpale-Naa Gariba Yankosor II, Naa Bapra Kukon-Lana Abdulai, Naa Bapra Zankpaling-Lana Dr. Yakubu II, and Naa Yaba Namo-Naa Ayuba. The reviewed constitution was adopted by the Dagbon Traditional Council in 2022.

Relief for 2023 Volta Flood Victims

During the devastating 2023 Volta Floods, Bukali II donated significant relief composing of 300 bags of maize, 100 bags of rice, and 400 tubers of yam to victims in the Volta Region of Ghana. He also donated 100 bags of maize to affected victims at Buipe in the Savannah Region.

Partnership Between Tamale Technical University and Bursa Technical University

In July 2024 Bukali II played a key role in establishing a partnership between Tamale Technical University (TaTU) in Ghana and Bursa Technical University (BTU) in Turkey. This collaboration aimed to enhance human capital development in Ghana through knowledge exchange initiatives.

References

1. ^ "Meet Yaa-Naa Abubakari Mahama II of Ghana". 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
2. "Dagbon outdoors new Yaa-Naa today | GhHeadlines Total News Total Information". ghheadlines.com. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
3. "New Yaa-Naa is a God-fearing man - Savelugu MP". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
4. "Savelugu chief selected as new Yaa Naa". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
5. "From a horseman, farmer to Ya-Naa; Read about the new overlord of Dagbon". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
6. "Hail new Yaa Naa; he takes over after 17 years vacuum". Graphic Online. 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
7. "Kuga-Na thanks President as Dagbon outdoors new Ya-Na". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
8. "Head of Andani family now new Dagbon overlord". Retrieved 2019-02-06.
9. "Savelugu chief, Yoo Naa Abubakar, selected as new Yaa-Naa". www.pulse.com.gh. 2019-01-19. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
10. MacGaffey, Wyatt (2013). Chiefs, Priests, and Praise-singers: History, Politics, and Land Ownership in Northern Ghana. University of Virginia Press. ISBN 9780813933863.
11. "'I'll be devoted to the service of Dagbon' – Yaa-Naa Abukari". January 25, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
12. "Yaa Naa Abukari Mahama's coronation in photos". Graphic Online. 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
13. "Yendi in a frenzy state as new Yaa Naa is outdoored today". www.pulse.com.gh. 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
14. GNA (2021-10-04). "Dagbon Traditional Council launches development fund". Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
15. "Dagbon Traditional Council launches development fund". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
16. "READ: Full Speech of Ya Naa Abukari II at the sod-cutting of the Gbewaa Palace Redevelopment Project". GhanaWeb. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
17. "Gbewaa palace reconstruction; Ya-Naa tours resettlement site". Zaa Radio 99.3 FM. 2023-09-22. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
18. "Dagombas serving as Ambassadors and Consul-Generals donate cash to support redevelopment of Gbewaa Palace". 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
19. "Dagbon Traditional Council adopts new constitution to govern its affairs". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
20. "Dagbon To Review 1930 Constitution". DailyGuide Network. 2020-12-15. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
21. GTonline (2022-10-22). "Dagbon Traditional Council adopts new constitution to govern affairs". Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
22. "Dagbon Constitutional Review Committee begins work on second draft of the constitution". Zaa Radio 99.3 FM. 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
23. "Yaa Naa sets up Dagbon Constitutional Review Committee". The Daily Statesman Newspaper. 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
24. "Dagbon overlord supports victims of Akosombo dam spillage". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2023-11-23. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
25. Gadafi, Mohammed (2023-11-23). "Akosombo Dam Spillage: Yaa Naa Supports Victims With Food Items". The Custodian Newspaper Online. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
26. Kamasah, Andreas (2023-11-24). "Ablakwa overjoyed as Ya-Na invites him to palace, makes huge donation to flood victims". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
27. ^ Fm, Admin@Nkilgi (2023-11-23). "Ya-Na Donates 100 Bags Of Maize To Buipe flood victims". Nkilgi FM Online. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
28. "Ya-Na supports Mepe and Buipe flood victims - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 2023-11-23. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
29. "Knowledge exchange key to human capital transformation -Ya-Na". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 2024-07-10.

• Living people
• Dagomba royalty
• People from Yendi
• Yaa Naa
• 1939 births