Damongo was aglow with rich culture, royalty and pageantry as the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, graced the grand durbar of the Yagbon Damba Festival as the Guest of Honour.

The historic event, held at the forecourt of the Jakpa Palace, brought together an impressive array of traditional rulers, led by the Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, political stalwarts, high-profile dignitaries, and thousands of indigenes and well-wishers from across the Savannah Region and beyond.

Julius Debrah, who represented His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, was accorded a rousing welcome, befitting his status, amidst pulsating traditional drumming and dancing that epitomized the cultural splendour of the Gonja Kingdom.

The Yagbon Damba Festival, one of the most revered and sacred traditional festivals of the people of Gonja, is celebrated annually to reaffirm unity, strengthen social cohesion, and showcase the rich cultural heritage and customs bequeathed to them by their forebears.

Addressing the durbar, Debrah conveyed the fraternal greetings of President Mahama to the Yagbonwura and the entire Gonjaland, and lauded the traditional leadership for their pivotal role in preserving peace, fostering unity, and driving development in the region.

He underscored government’s unwavering dedication and commitment to inclusive development, respect for chieftaincy, and the empowerment of traditional institutions as indispensable partners in Ghana’s transformative agenda.

The Overlord of Gonja Kingdom expressed profound gratitude to the Presidency for honouring the festival and reiterated the need for continued collaboration between government and traditional authorities for accelerated development in the Savannah Region.

The celebration was marked by colourful displays of smocks, horse riding, cultural performances, and homage-paying by divisional chiefs.