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The Dagbon Kingdom is experiencing a profound and unexpected loss following the reported death of Major (Rtd) Sulemana, the Paramount Chief of the Tolon Traditional Area, on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
According to Accra-based radio station Atinka 104.7 FM, the chief died on Sunday afternoon shortly after completing Zuhr prayers at the Palace.
Musketry was fired minutes later, the traditional signal used to announce the departure of a royal figure of his stature, confirming the death of the late Tolon Naa.
Details surrounding the circumstances of his passing remain limited at this stage, beyond what was reported from the Palace on Sunday afternoon.
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The firing of musketry, however, confirmed to those in and around the Tolon area that their Paramount Chief had passed on.
Major (Rtd) Sulemana was widely regarded as the traditional Defence chief of the Dagbon Kingdom, a title that speaks to his significant standing within the traditional hierarchy.
The late Tolon Naa was born in 1943 at Tali and served as an escorting officer to Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, before later retiring as a Major of the Ghana Armed Forces.
He was the first son of the late Tolon Naa Alhassan Sulemana and became the Regent of the Tolon Traditional Area in 2001 following the demise of his father.
In 2019, he was Eskinned as the paramount chief of Tolon after 18 years as Regent and completing the burial rites of his late father.
The final rites for the traditional leader are expected to be conducted in accordance with Islamic and Dagbon traditional customs, with details of the funeral arrangements to be announced by the appropriate traditional authorities soon.
His death arrives at an already painful moment for the kingdom, coming just days after the passing of the Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II, a loss that had already sent waves of grief through northern Ghana and beyond.
The back-to-back deaths of two of Dagbon’s most senior traditional leaders within such a short period represent an extraordinary blow to the kingdom.
The Tolon Traditional Area, which Major (Rtd) Sulemana led, falls under the broader Dagbon Kingdom, making his role central to the administration and defence of the kingdom’s traditional structures.
The twin losses are expected to trigger an extended period of mourning and traditional rites across the Dagbon Kingdom, as communities come to terms with the deaths of two pillars of their traditional leadership in rapid succession.
The Instagram post announcing the demise of the Tolon paramount chief is below:
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported about Nii Tetteh Otu II, the Paramount Chief of Kpone, who has sadly passed away after 37 years of devoted service.
As the Kpone community mourned the loss of a respected leader, his enduring commitment to regional development and the protection of communal lands left an indelible mark that resonates deeply within the hearts of those he led.
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Kofi Owusu
Entertainment Editor
YEN.com.gh
Kofi Owusu graduated from the African University College of Communication (AUCC) in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. He has over 5 years of experience as an entertainment journalist. He joined YEN.com.gh in 2024. He previously worked as a freelance writer for local and foreign outlets. He won the award for Best Entertainment Editor of the Year at YEN.com.gh in 2025. He participated in several trainings, including Facebook and Google compliance workshops.
You can contact him via email: kofi.owusu@yen.com.gh
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