Accra, Jan. 12, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills and Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday commiserated with the chiefs and people of Gonja on the death of Yagbonwura Bawa Abudu Doshie, Paramount Chief of Gonja Traditional Area in the Northern Region. They expressed the confidence that a successor would be elected in accordance with laid down customs for peace, as they eulogized the Yagbonwura as an advocate of peace, development, mediator, hero, patriot, leader and trailblazer.

"His death has taken me by surprise, though he is advanced in years. But we should take pride in the fact that he performed his role to the best of his ability," President Mills said. The President and his deputy expressed the grief when a delegation from the Gonja Traditional Area, led by Buipewura Jinapor II, called on them to announce the chief's demise with a customary calabash-full of cola. The late Yagbonwura, twice President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs died on New Year's Day, January 1, 2010, at Damongo and buried on January 3, 2010. He was 120 years old.

The late Yagbonwura left behind five wives, 25 children and was a key figure in the development of the Gonja State during his reign. President Mills said he had the privilege of meeting the late Yabgonwura during his recent tour of the Northern Region, and was present during his enskinment in 1999, as Ghana's Vice President. He paid tribute to the late Yagbonwura who was a Member of the Committee of Eminent Chiefs that mediated in the Yendi chieftaincy crisis despite his age.

"Gonja has lost a leader, but Ghana has lost a patriot, somebody who made a lot of sacrifice for peace, all in the interest of Ghana," President Mills said.

He extended condolences to the bereaved Gonja state, and asked the people to take consolation in God's ability in all their endeavours. He assured the delegation that Government would be represented at the final funeral rites celebration scheduled for January 22, 2010. Vice President Mahama, a Gonja, said the late Yagbonwura undertook his duty with admiration and respect, and would be remembered for his integrity in addition to advocacy for the creation of an additional region for the North.

He noted that there was peace in the area during the reign of the late Yagbonwura who also advocated for mechanized agriculture. Vice President Mahama said such promotion of agriculture was in line with government's agricultural policy under the Savanna Accelerated Development programme, which sought to boost agricultural production and generate employment.