Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II, the traditional king (Overlord) of Dagbon in northern Ghana, has died.

Enskinned in January 2019, he played a central role in ending a long-running 16-year chieftaincy dispute between two royal factions that had divided the kingdom and disrupted traditional activities for years.

Born Bukali in Mion, the late king began his leadership journey as chief of Kpunkpono before ascending to the influential Savelugu skin.

His selection as Yaa Naa marked a historic moment of reconciliation in Dagbon, one of Ghana’s most important traditional kingdoms.

His passing, confirmed by multiple credible sources on Monday, July 13, is expected to trigger widespread mourning across the region, with many reflecting on his contributions to peace and the restoration of stability in northern Ghana.

Yaa Naa’s Legacy

Ascending to the throne as the 41st Overlord (or 42nd by some regional counts) in January 2019, his brief but transformative reign brought stability back to one of Ghana’s oldest and most influential traditional kingdoms.  

The core pillars of his legacy include:

1. The Restoration of Peace and Reconciliation
   The defining achievement of his reign was ending the deeply polarizing, 17-year-long Dagbon chieftaincy dispute.  

Following the tragic 2002 assassination of his predecessor, Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II, the kingdom was fractured into two rival royal gates: the Abudus and the Andanis.  

Working alongside the government-backed Committee of Eminent Chiefs, his enskinment in 2019 healed these generational wounds. He successfully united both factions, restoring the moral and spiritual authority of the skins of Yendi and bringing long-awaited political stability to Northern Ghana.  

2. Institutional and Constitutional Reforms
   Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II recognized that lasting peace required strong legal frameworks.

In 2020, he initiated a comprehensive review of the Dagbon Constitution to clarify customary successions and prevent future royal disputes.  

Under his guidance, the revised constitution was formally adopted by the Dagbon Traditional Council in 2022, providing a clear roadmap for future generations.

3. Socio-Economic and Cultural Development
   He actively worked to move Dagbon away from conflict and toward regional prosperity.  

Dagbon Development Fund (DDF): Launched in 2021, this fund was designed to channel resources directly into economic development, healthcare, and educational infrastructure across the kingdom.  

Gbewaa Palace Redevelopment: In March 2023, he initiated the physical reconstruction and modernization of the historic Gbewaa Palace in Yendi, a symbolic rebuilding of the kingdom’s beating heart.  

International Partnerships: He championed human capital growth by facilitating institutional collaborations, such as the 2024 educational partnership between Tamale Technical University (TaTU) and Bursa Technical University in Turkey.  

4. Humanitarian and National Leadership
   As the President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, he extended his influence far beyond his immediate kingdom to foster national unity.  

He was highly regarded for his philanthropy, notably sending substantial agricultural relief (including hundreds of bags of maize, rice, and yams) to help communities displaced by the devastating 2023 Volta Region floods and parts of the Savannah Region.  

Ultimately, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II went from a quiet, respected regional chief of Savelugu to the “Lion of Gbewaa” who chose healing over division. He leaves behind a peaceful, structured, and forward-looking Dagbon Kingdom.

The United Nations has issued a sharp warning against using migrants as scapegoats for South Africa’s socioeconomic challenges, as the government confirmed that more than 53,000 foreign nationals have been deported or repatriated in just five weeks.

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi announced on Sunday that 53,499 foreign nationals have been processed for deportation and voluntary repatriation since the launch of a nationwide “migration management” campaign in mid-June.

The crackdown, one of South Africa’s largest in years that many across the world are condemning as cruel and inhumane, follows weeks of anti-immigration protests marked by violence, intimidation, and looting.

Malawians Bear the Brunt

According to official figures, Malawian citizens accounted for over 80 percent of those processed, followed by nationals from Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre in Musina, Limpopo Province, has processed nearly 2,500 people, most of them Malawian and Zimbabwean nationals. Several countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya, have flown their citizens home in recent weeks.

UN: Migrants Are Not the Problem

The UN has cautioned against conflating migration with South Africa’s deep-rooted challenges of unemployment, inequality, and service delivery failures. Anti-migrant activists have accused undocumented foreigners of driving crime and taking jobs, but the UN and civil society groups argue that foreign workers—who make up only about 5 percent of the population—are being unfairly scapegoated.

“Now, in what universe can you scapegoat 4% to 5% of the population for all our problems?” economist Duma Gqubule said recently, dismissing the anti-migrant stance as “mass hallucination”.

Organizations defending migrants’ rights emphasize that foreign workers have become convenient targets in a country where the unemployment rate exceeds 30 percent and disproportionately affects Black South Africans.

Vigilante Threats and a “Deadline” That Passed

Anti-migrant activists had set an unofficial 30 June deadline for all undocumented migrants to leave the country, prompting thousands to flee in fear. Protesters—including leaders from groups such as March and March—have threatened to stage weekly demonstrations until the government meets their demands. There are mounting fears that the protests could turn violent again.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged public concerns about immigration but has condemned attacks against migrants and warned citizens against taking the law into their own hands. Minister Kubayi also cautioned that protesters must not conduct unauthorised searches of homes and businesses suspected of sheltering undocumented migrants.

Government Defends Enforcement, Signals Scaling Down

Kubayi said the deportation process has helped authorities apprehend individuals wanted for criminal activity, and that the government remains committed to “observing human rights and dignity of all people in our country, irrespective of their citizenship”. She added that authorities will continue enforcing immigration laws.

However, the government is reportedly considering scaling back the campaign as the number of repatriations increases.

“We envisage a phased scaling down of the process which will not negatively impact or compromise the deportation and repatriation processes we are undertaking,” a government source told Business Day.

Diplomatic Fallout

The crackdown has strained regional relations.

Ghana postponed a state visit by President Ramaphosa following xenophobic rallies that resulted in hundreds of Ghanaians being repatriated.

Other African nations have similarly expressed concern, with some leaders accusing South Africa of failing to protect foreign nationals.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has welcomed the commissioning of a new Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the National Cardiothoracic Centre of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, describing the facility as a “significant investment” in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and a critical step toward saving lives.

President John Dramani Mahama officially inaugurated the state-of-the-art laboratory on July 9, 2026—sixteen months after a devastating fire destroyed the country’s previous catheterization laboratory, which had provided specialized cardiac diagnostic and interventional services since January 2017.

The new facility was reconstructed through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, known as MahamaCares, a statutory fund established to finance specialized and high-cost treatment for chronic non-communicable diseases. The project aligns with the WHO’s strategy of strengthening countries’ capacity to prevent, detect, and manage NCDs, particularly cardiovascular diseases.

A Critical Gap Filled

The WHO noted that the recommissioning addresses a critical gap in Ghana’s healthcare system at a time when non-communicable diseases have become one of the country’s leading public health challenges.

“As Ghana faces a growing burden of NCDs, particularly cardiovascular diseases, this laboratory will improve timely diagnosis, expand cardiac care, and save lives,” the UN health agency stated.

Globally, NCDs account for 41 million deaths every year, representing nearly three-quarters of all deaths worldwide. More than 85% of premature NCD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, according to the WHO.

The burden is similarly high in Ghana, where non-communicable diseases are estimated to account for about 45% of all deaths, driven largely by cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory illnesses.

WHO’s Longstanding Support

The WHO has supported Ghana’s response through several initiatives, including the Ghana STEPS Survey 2023—a nationwide assessment of NCD risk factors co-funded by the governments of the United Kingdom and Norway—and the implementation of the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (PEN).

The PEN program seeks to strengthen primary healthcare by improving early diagnosis, standardizing treatment protocols, and enhancing referrals for patients with chronic diseases.

What the New Lab Means for Patients

The new catheterization laboratory is expected to significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, addressing longstanding challenges including:

• Limited specialized equipment
• Delayed emergency cardiac care
• Inconsistent clinical management
• Inadequate monitoring of patients across different levels of the health system

For thousands of Ghanaians living with heart conditions, the facility represents more than just infrastructure—it offers a second chance at life, reducing the need for costly and often inaccessible overseas medical treatment.

A Broader Commitment

The commissioning marks a significant boost to Ghana’s capacity to deliver advanced cardiac care and reflects broader efforts to strengthen the country’s response to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. As NCDs continue to rise across Africa, Ghana’s investment in specialized cardiac infrastructure offers a model for other nations grappling with the double burden of infectious and chronic diseases.

The new laboratory stands as a testament to what can be achieved when political will, international partnerships, and domestic health financing converge—a life-saving facility rebuilt from the ashes, ready to serve a nation determined to fight back against its deadliest silent killers.