Mion Lana - thesavannaonline

The Life and Legacy of Naa Alhassan Mahama, Mion-Lana II of Dagbon

Mion-Lana Alhassan II (also known as Naa Alhassan Mahama) was born in January 1952 in Yendi. He is the son of Naa Mahama Bla, who ruled Dagbon from 1948 to 1953, and Napaɣa Sanatu Paɣakaba. He is the fourth son of Naa Mahama Bla. His older brothers include Yaa-Naa Abdulai ŋmarigɔŋ (1954–1967), Nasa-Lana Naantɔɣimah, and Nabiyɔŋ Suɣiri.

Today, only three sons of Naa Mahama Bla are still alive—Mion-Lana Alhassan II, Nabiyɔŋ Andani Mahama, and Nabiyɔŋ Ziŋ-Naa Alhassan. Four princesses also survive.

After his father died in 1953, he and his mother returned to her family at N Yaba Yiri. She raised him there. Napaɣa Sanatu Paɣakaba is his mother’s name. She is the only wife of Naa Mahama Bla to have just one child—Mion-Lana Alhassan II.

Mion-Lana-Alhassan-II (Naa Alhassan Mahama)

His maternal roots run deep in the history of Dagbon. He is a direct descendant of Achiri Damba, a famed warrior who fought alongside Kambon-Naakpɛm Ziblim at the Battle of Adibo in 1896. The bloodline flows through Kaluɣu Musah to Wumbei, to Neindoo, then to Jahinfo Jɛrigu, followed by N Yaba Kojo and N Yaba Yiri—his mother’s home.

Mion-Lana Alhassan II began school in 1960 at Yendi Primary. He joined Naa Yaakuba Middle School in 1967. In 1970, he became a pioneer student of Yendi Secondary School.

His classmates include notable leaders:

Naa Bapra Kpan-Naa Abukari Abdulai (Paramount Chief of Kpano)
The late Hon. Mustapha Ali (Former MP and Minister under President Kufuor)
Dr. Abu Sakara (Former CPP Flagbearer)
Mr. Mumuni Mahama (Respected educationist and former head of the Islamic Education Unit)

After school, he began teaching in 1976 at Zohe Experimental Primary and later at Dimɔŋ Primary School. In 1978, he joined the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as a Plant Quarantine Officer, marking the beginning of his career in Saboba.

In 1988, he enrolled at Nyankpala Agricultural College. He completed his diploma in 1990 and was posted to Gambaga. He later moved to Bunkpurugu, where he served until retiring on February 1, 2013.

He is known for humility, hard work, and dedication. He is married to three wives and has ten children—six sons and four daughters—and fifteen grandchildren.

He is a family man, deeply loved by all who know him.

As Mion-Lana, may his reign bring peace, wisdom, and unity to Dagbon. May he guide his people with honour, and may his legacy inspire generations to come.

Retired Agric Officer Enskinned as New Mion Lana by Ya-Naa

The Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari II, has named Alhassan Mahama as the new Paramount Chief of the Mion Traditional Area. His appointment follows the completion of the final funeral rites for the late Mion Lana Abdulai Mahama.

Now bearing the title Mion Lana Alhassan II, he was enskinned at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi on June 3, 2025, and has since moved to Mion to assume his new role.

Mion Lana Alhassan II, a retired agricultural officer, brings decades of experience in Ghana’s public service. He worked across districts, including Damongo, Walewale, Saboba, and Bunkpurugu, with a strong focus on plant protection and regulatory services.

Born in January 1952 in Yendi, he is the fourth son of the late Ya-Na Mahama Bla, who ruled Dagbon from 1948 to 1953. After his father’s death, he was raised by his maternal family.

He started school at Yendi Primary in 1960 and went on to attend Naa Yaakuba Middle School and Yendi Secondary School. He later taught as a pupil teacher before joining the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in 1978. In 1990, he earned a diploma in agriculture from the Nyankpala Agricultural College and worked until his retirement in 2013.

He is married to three wives and has ten children—six sons and four daughters—with fifteen grandchildren.

Mion Lana Alhassan II was selected from five high-profile aspirants from both the Abudu and Andani royal families. His selection is seen as a unifying decision in the Dagbon Kingdom.

As Paramount Chief, he is expected to promote peace and development in the Mion Traditional Area. His extensive experience in agriculture and governance is viewed as a key asset for addressing contemporary challenges in the community.

Dagbon Mourns as Mion Lana’s Final Funeral Rites Begin in Sambu

The final funeral rites of the late Mion Lana, Nyab Abdulai Mahamudu, have commenced in Sambu, the traditional capital of the Mion Traditional Area, marked by a solemn display of Dagbon’s rich cultural heritage.

The Mion Lana—paramount chief of Mion and one of the key successors to the Dagbon Skin—passed away on August 17, 2022, at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra after a short illness.

The final rites, which began over the weekend, are expected to span the entire week and will be climaxed on Thursday, May 30, with a grand ceremony attended by chiefs, royals, dignitaries, cultural enthusiasts, and mourners from across Ghana and beyond.

The atmosphere in Sambu is already solemn, filled with a vibrant mix of reflection, ritual, and reverence. Traditional drumming, dirges, and sacred performances fill the air in honour of the late chief, fondly remembered as “The Peacemaker of Dagbon.”

Born in 1974, Nyab Abdulai Mahamudu was enskinned as Bolin-Lana at the age of 14 following the death and burial of his father, Ya-Na Mahamadu IV. He remained in royal seclusion for over thirty years before ascending to the position of Mion Lana on March 3, 2019—a role considered one of the most powerful and symbolic within the Dagbon Kingdom.

As heir apparent of the Abudu Royal Gate and a widely regarded successor to the Ya-Na throne, the late Mion Lana played a pivotal role in restoring peace and stability in Dagbon after decades of succession disputes.

His public endorsement of Ya-Na Abukari II in 2019 was a turning point in easing tensions and promoting unity between the royal gates.

According to the Secretary to the Planning Committee, Alhaji Abubakari Sadiq Abdallah, the funeral rites involve a series of sacred rituals led by elders of the Abudu Royal Family and the Mion Traditional Council.

To support the final funeral rites, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. John Ali Adolf, led a high-level government delegation to Sambu on behalf of the President.

The delegation presented the Mion Traditional Council with assorted items, including rice bags, bottled water cartons, soft drinks, livestock, and a monetary donation.

In a brief remark, the Minister conveyed the President’s condolences to the family and people of Mion, describing the late chief as “a unifier and visionary leader whose legacy will remain deeply etched in the history of Dagbon and Ghana at large.”

During his brief but impactful reign, the Mion Lana championed several developmental initiatives. He organised peace durbars, promoted inter-ethnic dialogue, and actively engaged the youth. He also led campaigns against illegal logging and bush burning, advocating environmental conservation as a core element of cultural preservation.

In education, he launched a “Back to School” initiative, distributed learning materials, and lobbied for infrastructure support. He secured classroom blocks through the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). He facilitated drilling over 15 mechanised boreholes to improve access to potable water across Mion.

Tributes continue to pour in from political leaders, traditional rulers, and ordinary citizens, who describe the late Mion Lana as a humble and visionary leader deeply committed to peace and progress.