Published on Friday 5th June 2025

The Chief of Yong Dakpemyili, Naa Fuseini Chimsi has maintained that he is the legitimate Chief for the community as ordained by the late Bamvum Lana upon the authority vested in him by the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari II.

The selection of Fuseini Chimsi to the skin by the late Bamvum Lana,Mahamadu Abdulai was aimed at finding lasting peace in Yong Dakpem Yili following confusion surrounding the community’s skin after another contestant from the same chieftaincy gate by name Mohammed Chimsi also Carries himself as the chief of the community, disregarding the orders of Ya-Na.

Following recent brouhahas regarding the skin of Yong Dakpemyili, the secretary of Dakpema Palace, Basharu Dabali affirmed Mohammed Chimsi as the chief priest through a supposed Tamale High Court ruling following a media engagement.

The Yong Dakpemyili Palace emphatically rejects his pronouncements, urging the general public to treat it with the contempt its deserves adding that the palace was only cited for contempt but not a judgement by the Tamale High Court removing Naa Fuseini Chimsi from the Skin as suggested otherwise.

In a letter signed by the Secretary of Yong Dakpemyili, Fuseini Baba indicated that even though the palace acknowledged contempt of the case against them, they are appealing the decision at the Appeals Court.

A letter dated 8th April 2024 emanating from Bamvum Palace, acting on the authority of Ya-Na enskined Fuseini Chimsi as the Chief of Yong Dakpemyili, who shall combine the role as the chief priest

Preceding Naa Fuseini Chimsi’s enskinment was a directive dated 2nd April 2024 from Ya-Na through the Dagbon Traditional Council asking the chief of Bamvum to enskin the chief of the community. Subsequent to that, Naa Fuseini Chimsi was selected chief of Yong Dakpemyili by the late Bamvum Lana, Mahamadu Abdulai.

Below is the Full Statement of Yong Dakpemyili Palace

PRESS STATEMENT BY YONG-DAKPEMA, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-02-06-25

The Yong-Dakpema (Yong-Naa), His Royal Highness, Fuseini Chimsi has noted with great concern, a media engagement in Tamale by one Mr. Basharu Daballi on issues of Yong-Dakpemyili.

The Yong-Dakpema, is by this press statement informing the general public to treat the misinformation peddled by the said Mr. Basharu Daballi with the contempt it deserves.
The media and the general public is also notified that his actions are not only detrimental to the peace of Yong-Dakpemyili, but also a great disrespect to the authority of the Yaa-Naa and a potential contempt of the Court of Appeal.

It would be recalled that on the 23rd Day of January 2020, Naa Fuseini Chimsi was selected as the Yong-Dakpema having been given the regalia (Kali), the traditional symbol of authority of the community.

After this elevation, one Mr. Mohammed Chimsi, a contestant in the search for Yong-Dakpema and his minority few supporters, started fomenting troubles in the community, leading to an unnecessary loss of lives and properties, an act which the Yong Dakpema, Fusieni Chimsi, has at all material times, condemned with no uncertain terms.

To restore lasting peace at Yong-Dakpemyili, His Majesty, Yaa-Naa Abukari Il, in his capacity as the President of the Dagbon Traditional Council, on 2nd April 2024, directed the Banvim-Lana, Mahama Abudulai (the late), to enskin a chief for Yong-Dakpemyili.

Acting on this directive by the overlord of Dagbon, the Banvim-Lana in consultation with other chiefs and elders of Dagbon, selected Naa Fuseini Chimsi as the chief of Yong-Dakpemyili, effectively making him both Yong-Dakpema and Yong-Dakpemyili chief (Naa).
Aggrieved by the elevation of Naa Fusieni Chimsi, Mr. Mohammed Chimsi filed a suit at the Dagbon Traditional Council against both the Banvim-Lana and YongNaa, a suit Mr. Mohammed Chimsi has since abandoned or failed to pursue.

Mr. Mohammed Chimsi however, continued his acts of trouble with the support of some unknown persons outside the Yong-Dakpemyili community in a clear disregard for the authority of the overlord of Dagbon, Yaa-Na. In an aggravated form of their disregard, they proceeded to inscribe ‘YONG DAKPEMYILI CHIEF’, on Mr. Mohammed Chimsi’s house situated at Yong-Dakpemyili, escalating the tension in the community.

By a letter dated 8th April 2024, His Majesty the overlord of Dagbon, banned Mr. Mohammed Chimsi from engaging in any chieftaincy related activities at YongDakpemyili and ordered the erasure of the inscription on his house as the said inscription was reserved for only the chief of the community, Naa Fusieni Chimsi.

Naa Fusieni Chimsi has been and is still the legitimate chief of Yong-Dakpemyili and has been in full control of the community albeit with troubles from Mr. Mohammed and his cohorts. We therefore entreat the general public to •take notice of the above and disregard the misinformation being peddled.

On 13th May 2025, the High Court, Tamale erroneously cited the chief of YongDakpemyili for contempt. The decision of the High Court has been challenged at the Court of Appeal. The pendency of the matter at the Court of Appeal makes it ‘subjudice’, for which reason we advise the media and the general public to refrain from discussing the merits of the case as being done by Mr Basharu Daballi in direct contempt of the court.

Presently, there is peace at Yong-Dakpemyili and the members of the community are going about their activities peacefully. Any breach of the peace shall be solely blamed on Mr. Basharu Daballi, who is not a stranger in Dagbon when it comes to matters that could substantially breach the peace.

Is it not Curious that press conferences on matters relating to Yong-Dakpemyili are held under the auspices of another chief and by persons who have no relation with Yong-Dakpemyili? The members of the Yong-Dakpemyili community are resolute and firmly behind their chief, Fusieni Chimsi, and would not tolerate any person or group of persons seeking to foment trouble in the community.

We appeal to the Regional Security Council to take steps to curtail the actions of Mr Basharu Daballi and all persons behind his impudence, before they create new tension in the Yong-Dakpemyili community.