President Mahama Leads National Tributes for Diplomat Victor Gbeho and Dagbon’s New Regent

1st August•3 min read•14 sources

President John Mahama has led the nation in honoring the legacies of several prominent Ghanaian figures, headlined by a state funeral for the veteran diplomat James Victor Gbeho and the formal enskinment of a new Regent for the Dagbon Kingdom. Speaking at the State House in Accra, President Mahama described Ambassador Gbeho, who passed away at age 91, as a paragon of integrity and professionalism. The President was joined by Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and international dignitaries, including former Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba, to bid farewell to a man who served Ghana for over five decades in roles ranging from UN Ambassador to President of the ECOWAS Commission. To immortalize his contributions, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced that a facility within the new Foreign Affairs Ministry block will be named in Gbeho’s honor.

Simultaneously, the Dagbon Kingdom entered a new era of leadership with the installation of Kampakuya Naa Yakubu Abukari as Regent following the death of Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II. The enskinment ceremony at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi saw the attendance of both President Mahama and the 2028 NPP presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Both leaders emphasized the importance of peace and unity during the transition. President Mahama praised the resilience of the Dagbon people and urged the new Regent to maintain the stability established by his predecessor. The ceremony was supported by a heavy security presence, including 79 officers from the Ghana Prisons Service, ensuring the event concluded peacefully under the supervision of the Dagbon Traditional Council.

In tandem with these national events, Parliament paid a solemn tribute to the late Hon. Duut Emmanuel Kwame, the former Member of Parliament for Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo. Led by the current MP, Dr. Abed-Nego Lamangin Bandim, the House observed a minute of silence for the man known as "Teacher Yupiong," celebrating his lifelong dedication to education and the welfare of his constituents. Meanwhile, in the Central Region, the burial of the renowned inventor and founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission, Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, proceeded in Gomoa Mpota. Despite an ongoing legal dispute between family members over funeral arrangements, the ceremony drew large crowds of traditional leaders and mission members who gathered to celebrate the Apostle’s contributions to engineering and Ghanaian society.

These ceremonies collectively underscore a period of significant transition in Ghana’s political and traditional landscapes. Whether through state honors for diplomats or the enskinment of traditional rulers, the events highlighted a shared national focus on preserving legacy and ensuring stability. President Mahama’s active participation in both the diplomatic and traditional rites reaffirms the government’s commitment to honoring public service and maintaining social cohesion as the nation moves forward with its development agenda.

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President Mahama Leads National Tributes for Diplomat Victor Gbeho and Dagbon’s New Regent

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