Naa Seidu Tungbani Salinbille II outdoored as Dorimon chief after four-year dispute

Naa Seidu Tungbani Salinbille II has been outdoored as the new chief of Dorimon in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region.

He was first enskinned on June 3, 2022, but was not outdoored following a protracted dispute, which was later settled in his favour by the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs and the National House of Chiefs.

Thursday's colourful ceremony was unique and grand, with the new chief being outdoored in accordance with the customs and traditional rites of the area. These included jumping over a cow in the presence of chiefs, Imams, queen mothers, security personnel and residents.

The Imams, who served as his spiritual godfathers, accompanied him as he walked around the cow while reciting verses from the Holy Quran before he leaped over it.

The ceremony was followed by a durbar attended by delegations from Dagbon, Mamprugu, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire.

In his acceptance speech, Naa Seidu Tungbani Salinbille II thanked the people of Dorimon for the honour and appealed to the government to address the numerous challenges facing the area.

He said children and generations yet unborn wanted a community united around a common vision.

The Member of Parliament for Wa West, retired Superintendent Peter Lanchene Toobu, spoke about roads, culture and peace.

He said the roads linking Wa to Dorimon, Dorimon to Wechiau, and Wechiau to Ga had received the attention of the President.

Mr Toobu said that during the President's visit to Wa West, he instructed the Minister for Roads and Highways to ensure that the road was constructed.

"Three days ago, I met the Minister for Roads and Highways in Parliament and I asked him what is happening to our road and he said go and tell your chiefs that His Excellency has instructed me to make sure that road is done and I'm making sure that that road is constructed," he said.

He said development was coming and that all that was needed was cooperation and collaboration.

A message from the Speaker of Parliament was read by his Principal Marshal, Wing Commander Frederick Bawa.

The Speaker urged the new chief to create space for dissent and embrace all those whose perspectives might differ from his.

A 60-member delegation from Dagbon, led by the Dalunlanaa, Tafah Mahamudu III, attended the ceremony on behalf of the Kampakuya-Naa, Yakubu Abukari II.

The Dalunlanaa said the people of Dagbon stood side by side with Naa Seidu Tungbani Salinbille II.

A statement from the Mamprugu Kingdom said the new chief was one of their own, sharing a common lineage, tradition, culture and destiny.

It said his forefathers migrated from Mamprugu, settled for some time in Dagbon and eventually moved to Dorimon.

Delegations from Gbonaa and Goua in Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire also attended the ceremony.

The leader of the delegation from Burkina Faso, Chief Canton de Gaoua, Albert Bifaate II, urged the Presidents of Ghana and Burkina Faso to construct a bridge over the Black Volta.

He said the bridge would ensure the easy movement of goods and services and boost trade and commerce between the two countries.