The Overlord of the Gonja kingdom, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I, has died.
The Yagbonwura passed on in the early hours of Sunday died January 5, 2023 at Damongo.
The late Yagbonwura Tuntumba was enskined as King of Gonja kingdom in March, 2010.
He was born to Yapeiwura Bakari, the son of Yagbonwura Mahama of Kusawgu and Mma Nyenbali Chiraba in 1933.
Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I, was the 30th in line to the skin as he was older than only three of his siblings.
Late Sulemana Tuntumba Boresah I, was a peace-loving man, a unifier and a development oriented chief.
Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I, became part of the three-member committee of eminent chiefs constituted by the Ghana Government in 2002 to intervene in the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis.
He replaced his predecessor Yagbonwura Bawa Doshie on the committee of eminent chiefs that include the Asantehene and Nayiri after ascending the Yagbon skin in 2010.
He will be remembered for spearheading the petition for the creation of the Savannah region.
In 2017, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I, led Gonjaland to petition the government for the creation of the Savannah region
Per the Gonja tradition, formal announcement would have to wait until a Buipe chief known as kagbapewura is invited to verify the demise of the Yagbonwura.
Available information show that the horse of the Yagbonwura will be sent alone along with the yagbonwura’s sandals to Buipe to inform the kagbapewura of the death.
The kagbapewura will then ride the horse back to Damongo to perform some rites before announcing the funeral.
The Gonja tradition and custom again demands that every chief or prince in the Gonjaland must turn and wears their shirts’ back until the final funeral rites are performed.
By late afternoon Sunday, the Paramount chief of Bole traditional area, Bolewura Safo Kutugefeso, had arrived at Damongo.
The Sonyowura is now the caretaker Yagbonwura until a new Yagbonwura is enskined.
The next Yagbonwura will automatically be the current Tulwewura if he is in good health.
No curve, no bend
By Peter Quao Adattor
