GHANIAN KING DIES IN SOUTH AFRICA AMIDST DIPLOMATIC ROW

July 14, 2026 • Dons Eze • 1 min read

Ya-Na Abukari II, the traditional king of Dagbon in northern Ghana, has died in South Africa after a short illness, according to media reports.

He became king after a long-running succession dispute that led to deadly violence in 2002 and later promoted reconciliation and reforms.

Traditional rulers remain highly influential in Ghana, helping settle disputes, preserve culture, and support local developmet

The Dagbon King’s death must now set in motion the choosing of a new king in the coming months.

Meanwhile, this comes against the backdrop of strained relations between Pretoria and Accra following anti-undocumented migration violence in parts of South Africa.

Ghana has publicly condemned attacks on foreign nationals and called for accountability following the killing of a Ghanaian citizen in Cape Town. South African authorities have maintained that the killing was linked to alleged extortion-related criminality and not xenophobia.

Dons Eze

DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.