The final funeral rites of the late Mion Lana, Nyab Abdulai Mahamudu, has commenced in Sambu, the traditional capital of the Mion Traditional Area, with a solemn display of the rich cultural heritage of Dagbon.The Mion Lana, one of the key successors to the Dagbon Skin and the paramount chief of Mion, passed on to eternity on August 17, 2022, at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra after a short illness.His final rites, which begun over the weekend, is expected to last the whole week to be climaxed on Thursday, May 30, with a grand ceremony to be attended by chiefs, royals, dignitaries, cultural enthusiasts, and mourners from across Ghana and beyond.Already the atmosphere in Sambu is solemn and filled with a vibrant blend of reflection, ritual, and reverence, as traditional drumming, dirges, and sacred performances fill the air in honour of the late chief, fondly remembered as "The Peacemaker of Dagbon."Born in 1974, Nyab Abdulai Mahamudu was enskinned as Bolin-Lana at the age of 14, following the death and burial of his father, Ya-Na Mahamadu IV.He remained in royal seclusion for over three decades before being enskinned as Mion Lana on March 3, 2019, a position considered one of the most powerful and symbolic within the Dagbon Kingdom.As the heir apparent of the Abudu Royal Gate and widely regarded as the successor to the Ya-Na throne, the late Mion Lana played a pivotal role in restoring peace and stability in Dagbon following decades of disputes over succession.His public endorsement of Ya-Na Abukari II in 2019 was hailed as a crucial moment in averting renewed tensions and promoting unity between the royal gates.Speaking to The Ghanaian Times, the Secretary to the Planning Committee, Alhaji Abubakari Sadiq Abdallah, said the rites involved a series of sacred rituals led by elders of the Abudu Royal Family and the Mion Traditional Council.As part of efforts to support the final funeral rites, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr John Ali Adolf, led a high-level government delegation to Sambu on behalf of the President.The delegation presented assorted items including bags of rice, cartons of bottled water, soft drinks, livestock and amount of money to the Mion Traditional Council.The Minister, in a brief remark, conveyed the President's condolences to the family and people of Mion, describing the late chief as "a unifier and visionary leader whose legacy will remain deeply etched in the history of Dagbon and Ghana at large."During his brief but impactful reign, the Mion Lana spearheaded several developmental initiatives.He launched peace durbars, promoted inter-ethnic dialogue, and actively engaged the youth as well as also campaigned against illegal logging and bush burning, advocating for environmental conservation as a core aspect of cultural preservation.In the area of education, he introduced a "Back to School" initiative, distributed learning materials, and lobbied for infrastructure support.
Notably, he secured classroom blocks through the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and facilitated the drilling of over 15 mechanised boreholes to improve access to potable water across Mion.Tributes continue to pour in from political leaders, chiefs, and ordinary citizens who describe the late Mion Lana as a humble, visionary leader committed to peace and progress. FROM GEOFFREY BUTA, SAMBU
