The Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari II, has imposed an indefinite ban on Sheikh Abdul-Rauf of the Ambariya Sunni Community, preventing him from delivering sermons anywhere within the Dagbon Kingdom.
This decision follows allegations that the cleric made offensive remarks about some of the Overlord’s appellations during a sermon, despite earlier cautions to religious leaders to avoid undermining Dagbon traditions. He was also accused of persistently speaking disrespectfully about traditional authorities and certain religious groups in the region.
The Paramount Chief of Gukpegu, Naa Alhassan Abdulai, acting on the authority of the Ya-Na, summoned the cleric to the palace on Monday morning and formally delivered the ban. The palace emphasized that the restriction was aimed at protecting peaceful coexistence between religious and traditional leadership—an arrangement that has held the kingdom together for generations.
The Dagbon leadership reiterated its resolve to uphold the dignity of the kingdom and appealed to all preachers in the area to refrain from making degrading comments directed at custodians of Dagbon culture.
Sheikh Abdul-Rauf appeared subdued when he arrived at the palace with senior figures from the Ambariya Sunni Community. He left without offering any public reaction, even when approached by journalists.
Background to the Tensions
Earlier this year, on April 15, the Ya-Na invited a group of religious clerics to the Gbewaa Palace to address the rising trend of confrontational and inflammatory preaching within the kingdom. During that engagement, the Overlord reminded the gathered clerics of their responsibility to guide the public toward moral discipline rather than contribute to division through personal attacks or doctrinal hostilities.
The Paramount Chief of the Kuga Traditional Area, Naa Yaba Kuga Naa Abdulai Adam, reinforced this message by urging clerics to respect Dagbon’s cultural identity. He stressed that Dagbon’s customs differ from those of the Arab world, even though many clerics draw knowledge from Arab scholars. The Kuga Naa further warned against condemning traditional deities in sermons and encouraged unity among religious leaders to safeguard the peace and development of Dagbon.
