Call it a triumphant entry of Dagbon King, Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II, to the Manhyia Palace!
The Dagbon King majestically zoomed onto the durbar grounds to participate in the climax of the 20th anniversary of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
And he did receive a warm and tumultuous reception from Asante people -- perhaps, due to the role the Ashanti overlord played in bringing him to rule Dagbon.
As head of the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II brought peace to a people devastated by a 17-year-old bloody chieftaincy crisis.
The anxious crowd rushed from their seats to catch a glimpse of the Dagbon overlord as he rode on horseback, escorted by two others and a huge entourage of chiefs, drummers and other sympathisers.
This brought human traffic to a standstill for almost 30 minutes.
Not even prominent Asante chiefs could have access to the durbar ground until the crowd had dispersed after Ya-Na had taken his seat, amid a display of beautiful Dagon dance and cultural heritage, with various patterns of smock competing for attention.
Born in 1939 in Yendi, Ya-Na Abukari Mahama was the enskinned overlord of Dagbon following the settlement of 17-year old chieftaincy dispute after funeral rites for two departed overlords.
The 80-year old King is the second child of Queen Duhili Ayishetu, daughter of Kulunkpe-Naa Abukari.
Before becoming the Paramount Chief of Savelugu, Yaa Naa Mahama was Chief Kponkpano near Yendi.
Following the killing of Ya-Na Yakubu Andai II in factional violence in 2002, then President John Agyekum Kufuor set up the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, led by Asantehene Otumfuor Osei Tutu II.
The protracted dispute between two royal gates, Abudus and Andanis, left the skin vacant for close to two decades.
Akwasidae-Kese is the first public visit to the Manhyia by Ya-Na Abukari to join in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the ascension to the Golden Stool by the man who engineered peace for Dagbon.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is the special guest of honour at today's Akwasidae-Kese durbar is leading government delegation, including Speaker of Ghana's Parliament, Chief of Staff, Ministers of State as well as Members of Parliament.
Former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, and John Mahama are also attending, as well as the Diplomatic Corps.
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