Yaa-Naa
His Majesty Ndan Yaa Naa, Naa Abukari II, King of Dagbon. 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.On 30 November 2023, leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited with the King of Dagbon, the country of the Dagomba people. Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, General Authority Seventy and President of the Africa West Area of the Church, accompanied by Elder Alfred Kyungu, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the area presidency, met with His Majesty Ndan Yaa Naa, Naa Abukari II at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi, in the northern region of Ghana.
The King is referred to as the Yaa Naa. He has reigned as overlord of the Dagomba people since 2019. He is a devout Muslim.
The Dagombas are an ethnic group that live primarily in Ghana and parts of Togo. There are over 3.1 million Dagombans under the King’s reign.
Elder Nielsen and Elder Kyungu were visiting nearby Tamale in preparation for the launch of the "Light the World" initiative in the Africa West Area. They visited the king as a courtesy to inform him of the Church’s work in his kingdom and to share with him the information about the Light the World event in Tamale.
The King welcomed the Church leaders and thanked them for their knowledge of, and respect, for the Kingdom’s traditions.
“We are grateful to have your Church in our area, and I am in support of your efforts here,” said the Yaa Naa. “We appreciate your prayers for me in the ruling of this Kingdom and recognize that your beliefs are in harmony with the people of Dagbon.”
He also gave his blessing and support for the Light the World initiative and said he would pray for its success.
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“We are grateful for your blessing and will leave here inspired to continue our efforts to help the people in your kingdom,” said Elder Nielsen. “I would like to leave a blessing that God will hear your prayers and bless you and your leaders as you seek to lead your kingdom in righteousness.”
As the meeting concluded, the leaders of the Church and the Yaa Naa exchanged gifts and promised to continue their peaceful and harmonious relationship. Elder Nielsen and Elder Kyungu also left several copies of the pamphlet "Muslims and the Latter-day Saints," which highlights the similarities in belief of the two religions.
“May we continue to work together and be united in our efforts to bless God’s children here in Ghana,” said Elder Nielsen.