A group of Dagombas serving Ghana presently as Ambassadors and Consuls Generals have made a donation of One Hundred thousand (GHS100,000) to support the redevelopment of the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi. Hajia Samata Gifty Bukari, the Consul General from Ghana to Lagos made the presentation on behalf of her colleagues to the King of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abukari II at his private residence in Tamale last Tuesday.
The Dagbon Overlord after receiving the cash donation consequently handed it over to the committee overseeing the construction process.
The Yaa Naa in his remarks commended the group for the gesture and urged others to emulate the example of the envoys. He also expressed his deep excitement about the level of enthusiasm from the sons and daughters of Dagbon towards the execution of the project.
He emphasized the project when completed will serve successive Yaa Naa’s from both the Abudu and the Andani royal families.
“I want to everybody in Dagbon to participate and contribute for the construction palace. Every little contribution [even one cedi] will be acknowledged and persons contributing will be given letters of appreciation, so that future generations will know that you also helped in the building of the palace” he stated.
His Royal Majesty, Ndan Yaa Naa Abukari II said, “This palace will not be the sole property of Naa Gariba; it’s Abudu and Andani property. Anyone enskinned as Yaa Naa will occupy the palace.”
Addressing the media, Hajia Samata said the gesture was the little contribution of all the Ambassadors of Dagbon, High Commissioners, Consul Generals and Deputy High Commissioners to support the new Gbewaa palace project.
“We’re here to pay homage to Ndan Yaa Naa and present a token to him to support the development of the Gbewaa Palace project that he has initiated. In fact, we heard the news with great joy and we will be happy and proud as Dagombas to see the project done well and completed under his leadership” she added.
Hajia Samata assured that her group will continue to support initiatives that seek to promote growth and transformation of Dagbon and enhance the socioeconomic livelihood of the people. The Consul General also advised other individuals and groups to donate towards the execution of the project.
She stated the project when completed will attract tourists to the area and portray the rice culture of the ancient traditional kingdom.
Meanwhile, the Ambassadors who made the donation included; H. E. Napoleon Abdulai, Ambassador to Mali, H. E. Mohammed Habib Tijani, Saudi Arabia and H. E. Alhassan Yakubu, Ambassador to Namibia, H. E. Mohammed Nurudeen Ismaila, Ambassador to Qatar.
The rest are; H. E. Mohammed Habib Idris, Ambassador to Kuwait, H. E Rita Tani Iddi, Ambassador to United Kingdom, H. E. Samata Gifty Bukari, Consul General of Ghana-Lagos and H. E. Abdulai Kamal-Deen, also ambassador to Jeddah.
The Savelugu Municipal Chief Executive, Hajia Ayishetu Seidu among other dignitaries accompanied Hajia Samata Gifty Bukari to make the presentation on behalf of her colleagues.
